CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Staff

Andrew Turner: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in (a) the Department and (b) each of the agencies it sponsors; and what the figures were for 1997.

Douglas Alexander: Full-time equivalent numbers for staff in all civil service departments and agencies is released twice-yearly by press notice. The latest data, for April 2002, was published on 31 October 2002. Data for April 1997 appears in the annual publication XCivil Service Statistics". Copies of the press notices and annual publication are available from the Library of the House.
	It is not possible to make exact comparisons over time because of changes in the make up of the departments and agencies comprising the civil service. Not only do new organisations appear and old ones disappear, but staff changes may reflect the transfer of work between departments and agencies.

TRANSPORT

Accreditation

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his Department is doing to support the Government's policy on accreditation.

David Jamieson: The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) is recognised by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry as the sole national body for the accreditation, against international standards, of certification and inspection bodies, testing and calibration laboratories. My Department uses UKAS accreditation services whenever it is appropriate to do so.
	Examples include our ISO 14001 environmental management systems and the certification work undertaken by the Vehicle Certification Agency in the motor trade industry and proposed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency in the shipping industry. The Highways Agency also continues to work closely with UKAS to help establish benchmark standards within the industry for certification purposes.

Central Railway

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to publish the Government's response to the Central Railway's proposals for a freight line; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 28 November, Official Report, column 455W, to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Hoyle).

Departmental Staff

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the distribution of his Department's whole-time equivalent staff was, including the staff in agencies and other bodies reporting to him, in each Government office region and nation of the UK (a) in 1996 and (b) at the most recent available period.

David Jamieson: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 15 January 2003, Official Report, column 609W.

External Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost to his Department was of the use of external consultants in 2002.

David Jamieson: My Department was formed on 29 May 2002. Expenditure on external consultants by my Department during the remainder of 2002 was #93.1 million.

Freight Facilities Grant

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was paid in freight facilities grant in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The following table shows UK Freight Facilities Grant payments by financial years:
	
		
			  # million 
		
		
			  
			  
			 1997–98 8.4 
			 1998–99 9.6 
			 1999–2000 12.1 
			 2000–01 19.9 
			 2001–02 46.5 
		
	
	I believe this year-on-year increase in the amount of money paid in grant to be clear evidence of our continuing commitment to transferring freight from road to rail or water, wherever it is practical and environmentally beneficial to do so.

Job Sharing

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the extent of job sharing in his Department.

David Jamieson: Approximately 7 per cent. of staff in DfT Central Units work part time. Information specifically on job sharers is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. Job sharing forms just one strand of a range of possible alternative and flexible working arrangements. Under DfT central posting arrangements, all posts are open to part-time workers or job sharers. In very exceptional cases where line managers consider that a post cannot be filled on a part- time/job share basis, they must make a case to HR setting out compelling reasons for this. The vast majority of such requests are denied.
	The central Department, in conjunction with ODPM, supports a part-time workers network.
	The DfT agencies, in almost all cases, also operate a policy of advertising all posts as open to part-time workers or job sharers. All operate a range of flexible working options. Several also support part-time working or carers networks.

Network Rail

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of expenditure by Network Rail on public expenditure commitments; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Rail Regulator is currently conducting an interim review of Network Rail's access charges. This began on 15 November 2002 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2003.

Port Marine Safety Code

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 9 December 2002, Official Report, columns 38–41W, on statutory harbour authorities, which statutory harbour authorities (a) have not completed and (b) have not indicated that they have completed implementation of the Port Marine Safety Code.

David Jamieson: The following competent harbour authorities have neither (a) completed nor (b) indicated that they have completed implementation of the Port Marine Safety Code because they have not yet issued a formal statement of compliance:
	Eastbourne (Sovereign Harbour)
	Irvine Harbour Company
	Porthleven Harbour and Docks Company
	Canterbury District Council (Whitstable)
	Carmarthenshire County Council (Llanelli/Burry Port)
	Exeter City Council
	Isle of Wight Council (Newport)
	Waveney District Council (Southwold)
	Worthing Borough Council
	Crouch Harbour Authority
	Looe Harbour Commission
	Maryport Harbour Commission
	Mousehole Harbour Commission
	Sandwich Port and Haven Commission
	Duchy of Cornwall (Isles of Scilly)
	Broads Authority
	My Department is reviewing the quality of compliance by harbour authorities and will be making further investigations of the above authorities and any others where there is an indication that they may not have given proper consideration to the principles embodied in the Code.

Portland Search and Rescue Helicopter

Jim Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the risk assessment of the safety implications of moving the Portland search and rescue helicopter to Lee-on-Solent.

David Jamieson: An operational analysis of the Portland area helicopter was carried out for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) by consultants for internal purposes. The analysis is technical in nature and is considered to be commercially sensitive and is therefore exempt from disclosure under Section 13 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Discussions about the future of the helicopter base are continuing.

Rail Freight

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require the Strategic Rail Authority to publish regional freight strategies.

David Jamieson: The SRA's Strategic Plan, due to be published shortly, will provide some area-based information on the current use of the rail network for passenger and freight traffic throughout the country. There is no immediate plan to publish separate regional freight strategies.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport was formed on 29 May 2002. During the remainder of the calendar year 2002 it issued a total of 639 statutory instruments comprising 78 general instruments and 561 local instruments.

Performance Targets

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress made to meet his target of (a) an increase of 75 per cent. investment in the transport service through the Transport 2010 programme and (b) a reduction of 15 per cent.in traffic congestion.

David Jamieson: No such targets were included in the 10 Year Plan for transport. Progress against the objectives in the Plan are set out in 'Delivering Better Transport: Progress Report' which was published 17 December 2002, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Trains (Cycle Storage)

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met members of the Strategic Rail Authority to discuss the provision of cycle storage on trains; what the outcome was of these discussions; and if he will make a statement.

David Jamieson: The Secretary of State for Transport, and other Departmental Ministers, meet the Chairman and Chief Executive of the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) on a regular basis and discuss a range of issues. The SRA is continuing to encourage the provision of secure storage for bicycles at railway stations and for their carriage on trains where this is feasible. The SRA encourages all train operators to tailor their bicycle provision to the demand and latent demand on each route.

Transport 2010

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the levels of (a) public and (b) private money being used to fund Transport 2010 in London.

David Jamieson: Total public and private spending for London over the period of the 10 Year Plan are set out in the Finance Annex to XDelivering Better Transport: Progress Report" which was published on 17 December 2002 and placed in the Libraries of the House.
	In addition, Transport for London and the London Underground will have fares income available to them, and the Mayor will also have the revenues from his congestion charging scheme to spend on transport.

Vehicle Registration

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many possible vehicle registration numbers exist, and how many were issued, in each of the series 51 and 02.

David Jamieson: In each of the series 51 and 02 there are 7,312,896 registration numbers. For the 51 series 2,108,111 numbers were issued and for the 02 series 2,205,995 numbers.

Vehicle Registration

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many possible combinations of letters in the pattern of current vehicle registration numbers exist; and of those, how many are available for allocation in any six month period.

David Jamieson: There are 7,312,896 possible combinations in the current registration number system. From this total, combinations are withheld if they are likely to cause offence or are reserved for sale and in each six-month period the number available for allocation fluctuates. In the periods September 2001 to February 2002 and March 2002 to August 2002 there were 5,072,976 and 5,082,391 combinations available for allocation respectively.

DEFENCE

Naval Air Defence

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the comparative effectiveness in their air defence roles of (a) fixed-wing carrier-borne aircraft, (b) modernised Type 42 destroyers and (c) future Type 45 destroyers.

Adam Ingram: United Kingdom maritime forces normally operate as part of a Task Group, which protects itself against air attack through a series of 'layered' defences. Task Groups typically include carrier and/or land based fixed wing aircraft as an outer layer. Inside and complementary to this, the Type 42 Anti-Air Warfare Destroyers (and also Type 22 and 23 Frigates) are equipped to provide an air defence capability for both Force and self protection. The Type 42 Destroyers systems are being enhanced to ensure they remain effective in the air defence role.
	The Type 42 Destroyers will be replaced by the Type 45 Destroyers, fitted with the highly capable Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS). PAAMS will represent a significant improvement in Air Defence capability compared with that provided by the current Type 42 Destroyer fitted with Seadart. Key improvements will include better surveillance, increased channels of fire, a larger magazine capacity and a faster, more manoeuvrable missiles.
	The comparative effectiveness of these complementing layers has been successfully demonstrated in many recent National, NATO and Allied exercises and proven in the Gulf and Adriatic conflicts to adequately protect a Task Group.

Defence Contracts

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will introduce a policy whereby defence contracts awarded to foreign companies require 50 per cent.of the work to be carried out in the United Kingdom.

Adam Ingram: I refer my hon Friend to the answer I gave on 13 January 2003 Official Report, columns 405–06W.

Dstl Staff

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the initial capital spend for relocation of Dstl staff from Farnborough to Portsdown Main.

Lewis Moonie: The costs of house moves for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) staff relocating from Farnborough to Portsdown Main, together with the additional travelling costs for staff choosing not to move house, are estimated to be #13.3 million.
	Dstl considered many different site rationalisation options. The selected option delivers the greatest improvements in synergy while remaining affordable.
	The estimated capital value of the contract to refurbish the Portsdown Main site is commercially sensitive and is withheld in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Dstl Staff

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if an environmental sustainability assessment was made of factors that may result from the relocation of Dstl staff in Farnborough to Portsdown Main, with particular reference to changes in the level of commuter traffic; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: A Strategic Environmental Appraisal (environmental sustainability assessment) was prepared in accordance with MOD Policy for each of the site relocation options considered by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl).
	It is recognised that the rationalisation of Dstl sites will result in a change in travel patterns, the overall effect of which is likely to be beneficial, in that it will contribute to reducing the need for travel between geographically dispersed sites. Dstl also recognises, however, that at Portsdown Main there will be local issues concerning the increased level of commuter traffic entering and leaving the area. Dstl are consulting with the local planning authorities and are commissioning consultants to identify any significant environmental constraints and to prepare a Preliminary Environmental Report. As part of this commission a detailed transport assessment will be completed, which will highlight areas where improvement and mitigation might be beneficial. Dstl are committed to establishing a travel plan for Portsdown Main with the aim of reducing dependency on the private car and promoting the use of other modes of transport. The prime contractor appointed to complete the refurbishment and re-population of Portsdown Main will be required to take full account of these findings during design, construction and subsequent operation of the site.

Dstl Staff

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the financial appraisal and independent review by the MoD Senior Economic Advisor of the decision to move Dstl staff from Farnborough to Portsdown Main.

Lewis Moonie: The appraisal referred to contains information that is commercially sensitive, it is withheld in accordance with Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is currently requesting bids from contractors for the refurbishment of the Portsdown Main site and information contained in the appraisal may weaken Dstl negotiating position.

Dstl Staff

Sue Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the loss to Dstl of experienced staff who are unable or unwilling to relocate from Farnborough to Portsdown Main.

Lewis Moonie: The move of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) staff from Farnborough to a new site at Portsdown is planned for 2006. At this comparatively early stage it is difficult to predict whether or not Dstl will lose staff and if so in what numbers. We hope that all staff currently employed by Dstl at the Farnborough site will choose to stay with the Laboratory and move to the new site.
	In October 2002, after the relocation decision had been announced to staff, Dstl commissioned MORI to carry out an independent Staff Opinion Survey. The response of staff, particularly at Farnborough, was very positive and had improved in key areas over the previous survey in 2001. There are no indications at this time that Dstl will lose significant numbers of staff because of its relocation plans.

DynCorp

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many personnel and from which departments or agencies within his Department, currently employed by his Department, would be transferred to the employ of DynCorp should the company's bid prove successful; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Landmarc Support Services (LSS) have been selected by the Ministry of Defence as the preferred bidder to act as the strategic partner in the management and running of the Army Training Estate. LSS is a special purpose company owned by Interserve Defence Ltd and DynCorp International.
	Approximately 1,450 Civil and Crown Servants from the Army Training Estate, Defence Estates and Reserve Forces and Cadets Association would transfer, with their jobs, to LSS between April and August 2003, should a contract be placed. These staff will have their employment rights protected by both Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and MOD's codes of practice.

Ethical Banking

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

Adam Ingram: The Government believe it is important for consumers to have choice in financial products, including the availability of 'ethical' products. However, it would not be appropriate for the government to exclusively support the development of one specific group of financial service providers. It is for individual consumers to decide the attributes they most value from their financial services and for financial services firms to be transparent about their use of funds and investments.

European Rapid Reaction Force

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  for what purposes beyond humanitarian relief, peacekeeping and crisis management British hardware and personnel committed to the European Rapid Reaction Force may be used;
	(2)  what the British (a) hardware and (b) personnel commitment is to the ERRF; and to what extent this has changed since November 2002;
	(3)  what British commitment he estimates will be required to meet goal shortfalls by fellow members of the ERRF in (a) its first year and (b) subsequent years.

Geoff Hoon: There is no standing European Rapid Reaction Force. Under the European Security and Defence Policy, national forces will come together for specific, EU-led crisis management operations (the 'Petersberg tasks') where NATO as a whole is not engaged. These incorporate humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks, and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking.
	We are not committing British forces to a standing structure—we and other member states are, on a voluntary basis, offering to make forces available to meet requirements identified in the Helsinki Headline Catalogue as necessary to enable the EU to undertake the full spectrum of Petersberg tasks. The potential British contribution could be up to 12,500 troops, 72 combat aircraft and 18 warships, with a full range of supporting capabilities. At the Capabilities Improvement Conference in November 2001, along with other member states, the United Kingdom increased its potential contribution in areas where capability shortfalls were identified. There has been no change since then.
	Headline Goal shortfalls are identified by comparing the combined total of forces offered by member states with the Headline Goal requirements and are therefore collective; it is not the case that the United Kingdom contribution is intended to meet the shortfalls of others. Implementing solutions to shortfalls is a matter for nations or groups of nations to undertake voluntarily.

Field Hospital Volunteers

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the 202 Field Hospital Volunteers have been called up; what their profession is in each case; and in which NHS facility they are employed.

Lewis Moonie: To date no members of 202 (Volunteer) Field Hospital have been called up, nor are there any immediate plans to do so.

Iraq

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) briefing and (b) other assistance personnel from his Department gave to The Sunday Telegraph in respect of its report of 22 December 2002 about preparations for a military campaign against Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: No authorised briefing or assistance was given.

Iraq

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines he has given to the media about what is not appropriate to report in advance of possible military action against Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: No guidelines have been issued to anyone detailing what would not be appropriate to report should there be any military action against Iraq. However, the specific issue of reporting restrictions is dealt with under the DA Notice procedures, further details of which can be found on the Defence Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee website at:
	The Ministry of Defence will shortly be in touch with editors of the mainstream media about the arrangements for reporting during any possible future military action against Iraq.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many children have been killed in Iraq as a direct result of bombs and missiles used to enforce the no-fly zones in Iraq since the policy of implementation was started.

Geoff Hoon: We are not aware of any child fatalities resulting from responses made in self-defence by coalition aircraft patrolling the no-fly zones.
	Coalition aircrew only ever respond in self defence against military targets. When attacks by Iraqi air defences force coalition aircraft to respond in this way, we go to great lengths to ensure that the risk of civilian casualties is minimised. Targets are selected with extreme care and precision-guided weapons are used.

Iraq

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to date of mobilisation of British troops and medical auxiliaries for prospective military activities in the Gulf.

Geoff Hoon: The information requested is not yet available. I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House in due course.

Iraq

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role he expects the Fairford air base in Gloucester to play in any conflict with Iraq.

Geoff Hoon: RAF Fairford is a NATO designated standby base that is made available to the United States Visiting Force and from which a wide range of aircraft types can be deployed. The United Kingdom Government must be fully consulted and agree before any US Air Force aircraft are deployed operationally from any RAF base, including RAF Fairford.
	No request has been received to activate RAF Fairford for operational purposes and it would be inappropriate to speculate what role, if any, the base might play in the event of any conflict with Iraq.

Iraq

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many MoD personnel are engaged in (a) translating and (b) analysing the dossier submitted by Iraq to the UN; and if he will make a statement.

Geoff Hoon: The Iraqi declaration in response to United Nations Security Council resolution 1441 is being analysed by the Ministry of Defence in conjunction with other Departments. Parts of the declaration are being translated into English by Ministry of Defence personnel and by personnel drawn from other Departments. I am withholding the number of personnel engaged in the tasks of translating and analysing the declaration in accordance with Exemption la of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.

Future Joint Combat Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when a decision is to be made on the additional purchase of Future Joint Combat Aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: We do not expect to make a decision on how many Joint Strike Fighters are required to meet our Future Joint Combat Aircraft requirement until 2006. Work to inform this decision is ongoing and in the meantime our planning assumption remains that up to 150 Short Take Off and Vertical Landing Joint Strike Fighters will be required.
	A purchase of additional Joint Strike Fighters is one of the options being considered to fill any manned aircraft requirement within the Future Offensive Air System. A range of potential mixes of platforms is currently being looked at, including Long Range Cruise Missiles, Uninhabited Combat Air Vehicles and manned aircraft. No decisions have yet been taken.

New Barracks

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the sites being considered for new barracks.

Lewis Moonie: I will write to my hon. Friend and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

RAF Menwith Hill

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his answer of 16t December 2002, Official Report, column 518W, on RAF bases, for what reason no budget is shown for RAF Menwith Hill.

Adam Ingram: RAF Menwith Hill is owned by the Ministry of Defence and made available to the US Department of Defense under the NATO Status of Forces Agreement of 1951. Administration of the base is the responsibility of the US authorities.
	Information on detailed operational matters at RAF Menwith Hill, including funding issues, is withheld under Exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information on the grounds of national security.

Reservists

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts signed by his Department requiring the service provider to employ sponsored reserves; how many sponsored reserves are required in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: As of 14 January contracts have been signed for the RORO Strategic Sealift which has a requirement for 180 Sponsored Reserves (SRs), the Survey Vessels Project which has a requirement for four SRs, the Mobile Met Unit which has a requirement for 48 SRs and the Heavy Equipment Transporter which has a requirement for 85 SRs.

Reservists

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many call-out notices have been sent out recently; how many call-out notices were sent to reservists and under what legal headings prior to and during (a) the Kosovo crisis, (b) the first Gulf war and (c) operations in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence stated in his announcement to the House on 7 January 2003, Official Report, column 24, we envisage initially sending out sufficient call-out notices to secure about 1,500 Reservists and we will issue further notices as appropriate. As of 13 January, some 615 call-out notices had been sent under the authority of the call-out order made on 7 January 2003 under Section 54 of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 (RFA 96). For operations in the former republic of Yugoslavia (including Kosovo) and Afghanistan, Reservists were also called out under Section 54 of RFA 96. For Operation Granby (the Gulf conflict 1990–91), Reservists were called out under Section 10 of the Reserve Forces Act 1980. Information regarding call-out notices served for these operations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Reservists

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether reservists are awaiting call-up to come from (a) the Territorial Army and (b) the Civilian Regular Reserves; what reserve liabilities exist for each category of reserve in each of the three services; which situations must exist before recall can be permitted; what procedures have to be followed in order to implement the call-up in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: Initially we envisage to secure about 1,500 reservists under the call-out Order made on 7 January 2003. That Order was made under section 54(1) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996. The vast majority of those being called out will come from the volunteer reserve forces, ie. the Royal Naval Reserve, the Royal Marines Reserve, the Territorial Army and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. However, some reservists, particularly those who have skills not readily available in the volunteer reserve forces, will be called out from the ex-regular reserve forces, ie. the Royal Fleet Reserve, the Army Reserve and the Royal Air Force Reserve.
	The general liabilities for members of the reserve forces, both volunteer and ex-regular, are set out in Part VI of the Reserve Forces Act 1996, particularly sections 52, 54 and 56. The liability of certain officers and former servicemen who are not members of any reserve force to be recalled for service is set out in Part VII of the Act and the power to authorise their recall is laid down in section 68. The call-out Order made on 7 January does not authorise the mobilisation of such individuals and there are no plans to make a recall Order. Such an Order could only be made in time of national danger or if a great emergency had arisen.

Reservists

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons reservists can refuse to serve; what powers the MoD has to compel reservists to serve; and if he will make a statement.

Lewis Moonie: The Reserve Forces Act 1996 (RFA 96) requires Reservists who are served with a call-out notice to report for service at a specified time and place. Failure to comply may result in the Reservist being charged with desertion or absence without leave and may be tried by court-martial or summarily by a civil court. However, RFA 96 also contains safeguards for individuals, including the right to apply for exemption from or deferral of call-out. The detailed regulations are contained in the Reserve Forces (Call-out and Recall) (Exemptions Etc) Regulations, Statutory Instrument 1997/307. Schedule 1 of those regulations sets out the grounds on which a Reservist may make an application. Reservists are made aware of their right to apply for deferral or exemption at the time of their call-out. There are separate arrangements for conscientious objectors.

Reservists

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists are being called up who reside in Scotland.

Lewis Moonie: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence stated in his announcement to the House on 7 January 2003 Official Report, column 24, experience shows that the number of call-out notices issued needs to be significantly larger than the number of individual Reservists likely to be required. Under the call-out order made on 7 January 2003, we envisage initially sending out sufficient call-out notices to secure about 1,500 Reservists and we will issue further notices as appropriate. As of 13 January, some 615 call-out notices had been issued, of which 32 were sent to addresses in Scotland.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is not held for the years prior to 1999. The Ministry of Defence issued the following number of statutory instruments:
	
		
			 Date Statutory Instruments Issued 
		
		
			 1999 4 
			 2000 18 
			 2001 10 
			 2002 12

Strategic Sea Lift Capability

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the (a) current and (b) projected future strategic sea lift capability of the armed forces.

Adam Ingram: Currently the Ministry of Defence has four Roll-On/Roll-Off vessels available full-time to meet our strategic sealift requirement. It is MOD policy is to charter merchant shipping from the commercial market to meet additional demands. In addition to this capability five Landing Ships Logistic (LSL) provide additional lift capability if not required for amphibious operations.
	For the future, with the full introduction of our new strategic sealift service by the summer, we will have six RoRo vessels available at various degrees of readiness. Four of these vessels will be employed by MOD to meet day-to-day requirements with the remaining two vessels at lower states of readiness being available to MOD when operational situations warrant. This capability will also be augmented by four Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) (LSD(A)) which again, will be available when not required for amphibious operations. These vessels, which have a significantly enhanced lift capability, will replace current LSLs and are scheduled to come into service from 2004.

Type 23 Frigates (Chile)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has to sell RN Type 23 frigates to the Chilean Navy; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: I refer the hon Member to the answer my hon Friend the Under Secretary of State for Defence gave on 30 April 2002 Official Report, column 746W to the hon. Member for Essex, North (Mr. Jenkin).

War Pensions

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of UK veterans from conflicts since and including World War II have claimed war pensions (a) three years, (b) five years, (c) 10 years and (d) more than 20 years after they would have been entitled to start receiving the benefit since 1972.

Lewis Moonie: The information requested is not available in the format required and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The War Pensions Scheme is unique in that there are no time limits for claiming a war pension. As a consequence of this, the onus has always been on the veteran to make a claim and entitlement is normally only given from the date of claim.

Warship Modernisation Project

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he will write to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South regarding his answer of 7 November 2002, Official Report, column 457W, concerning the Warship Modernisation Project.

Adam Ingram: I replied to the hon. Member today.

WALES

Capita

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the contracts that have been awarded to the Capita Group by the Office.

Peter Hain: No contracts have been awarded to the Capita Group by my Department.

Correspondence

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State received from members of the public in relation to his ministerial responsibilities in 2002.

Peter Hain: During 2002 the Parliamentary Under-Secretary answered 46 letters from members of the public in his Ministerial capacity. In addition 258 letters, which had been addressed either to myself or to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, were answered on our behalf by officials.

Correspondence

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many letters he received from members of the public in relation to his ministerial responsibilities in 2002.

Peter Hain: During 2002 my predecessor and I answered 307 letters from members of the public in our Ministerial capacity. In addition, 258 letters which had been addressed to either the Secretary of State or the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, were answered on Ministers' behalf by officials.

Public Service Agreements

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his Department's performance against each of its public service agreement targets.

Peter Hain: My Department is not required to have a public service agreement because of the nature of its role and its size.

Welsh Office Assets

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the assets of the Welsh Office valued at more than #50,000, identifying in each case (a) the nature of the asset, (b) the latest estimated value of the asset and (c) the rationale for possession of the asset; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: (a) Land and Buildings, that is, Gwydyr House in Whitehall, London SW1;
	(b) #1,7 million; and
	(c) it is the London headquarters of my Department and the location of my London office.
	Freehold Land and Buildings were valued on 31 March 2000 on the basis of open market value for existing use in accordance with the XAppraisal and Valuation Manual" produced jointly by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers and the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation. The valuation has been adjusted to its level at 31 March 2002 in accordance with accounting conventions.

Welsh Office Costs

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his estimate is for the latest year for which information is available of the cost to the Welsh Office of (a) its press office, (b) its legal office, (c) its private office, (d) its briefing unit, (e) its social policy unit and (f) its finance and administration unit; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: The net administration costs of my Department in 2001–02 were #2.839 million. The costs of the constituent branches are not separately identifiable.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Expenditure (Newsprint)

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total expenditure of her Department was on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002.

Kim Howells: The Department's spend on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2001–02 was #28,234.

Departmental Staff

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in (a) the Department and (b) each of the agencies it sponsors; and what the figures were for 1997.

Kim Howells: The number of full-time equivalent staff employed in the Department and the Royal Parks Agency are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Current 1997 
		
		
			 DCMS 459 340 
			 RPA 237 238

Ethical Banking

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

Kim Howells: My Department uses the Bank of England for banking services and there have been no other relevant contracts concluded.

External Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total cost to her Department was of the use of external consultants in 2002.

Kim Howells: 11 contracts were awarded to external consultants in 2002 totalling #323,820. This includes the Royal Parks Agency.

Job Sharing

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the extent of job sharing in her Department.

Kim Howells: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has a range of policies intended to help staff to better manage work-life balance, including support for part-time and job-share opportunities. All posts are open to those wishing to work part-time or job share although there are currently no posts being filled on a job-share basis.

National Lottery

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much lottery money remains unspent, broken down by the distribution body.

Richard Caborn: The amounts not yet drawn down from the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) are shown in the following table.
	
		
			 Distributing body Unspent balance as at 31 December 2002 (#) 
		
		
			 Arts Council of England 233,021,761.89 
			 Arts Council of Northern Ireland 35,014,526.62 
			 Arts Council of Wales 31,016,874.65 
			 Community Fund 303,497,261.54 
			 Film Council 72,119,368.59 
			 Heritage Lottery Fund 1,020,616,023.34 
			 Millennium Commission 330,359,968.55 
			 New Opportunities Fund 937,329,787.85 
			 Scottish Arts Council 50,812,445.67 
			 Scottish Screen 2,839,957.24 
			 Sport England 295,290,905.58 
			 Sport Scotland 77,913,479.92 
			 Sports Council for Northern Ireland 21,008,670.19 
			 Sports Council for Wales 34,445,319.32 
			 UK Sport 4,166,877.84 
			 Total 3,449,453,228.79 
		
	
	At 30 September 2002, the distributing bodies collectively had made commitments, with varying degrees of firmness, totalling #3.99 billion.

Minimum Wage

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate the impact of increasing the minimum wage (a) in line with average earnings, (b) to #4.17 per hour, (c) to #4.87 per hour, (d) to #5.00 per hour and (e) to #5.30 per hour, on the cost of salaries of departmental employees (i) in total and (ii) for each nation of the United Kingdom in the next financial year.

Kim Howells: There would be no impact on the cost of salaries of DCMS employees in any of the scenarios (a) to (e) as all DCMS employees are paid at a higher hourly rate than #5.30 per hour. All DCMS employees work in England.

Public Handling Rights

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much on average was paid out annually through Public handling Rights over the last five years; and what the administrative cost was.

Kim Howells: holding answer 14 January 2003
	The average total amount paid out annually by the Public Lending Right fund to registered authors between 1997 to 2001, the last five years for which payments have been made, was #4.3 million. During the same period, the average annual administrative cost of the scheme was #745,000.

Public Libraries

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public libraries have (a) closed and (b) opened in each local authority in England since 1997.

Kim Howells: This information is not held centrally. However, the total number of service points in each local authority open 10 hours or more per week, is contained in the annual Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Annual Public Library Statistics, copies of which are in the House of Commons Library.

Public Libraries

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many public libraries there are in each local authority in England.

Kim Howells: This information is not held centrally. However, this information is contained in column 18 (Total Service Points open 10 hours or more per week) of the annual Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Public Library Statistics, copies of which are in the House of Commons Library. The latest Actual figures available are for 2000–01. Estimates are available for 2001–02.

Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many days were lost due to sickness absence in the Department in 2002.

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many working days were lost due to illness in her Department in (a) 2002 and (b) each of the preceding five years.

Kim Howells: Cabinet Office publishes an annual report XAnalysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service". The most recently published figures for the calendar year 2001 were announced by Ministerial Statement on 19 December 2002, and copies placed in the Libraries of the House.
	For DCMS the 2001 average working days absence per staff year figures were:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 Certified Sickness 3.8 
			 Self-Certification 2.1 
			 Total 5.9 
			 Staff years 420 
		
	
	The 1999, 2000 and 2001 reports are available on the Cabinet Office website: www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/civilservice/publications/sickness/index.htm. The sickness absence figures for 2002 will be announced in due course.
	DCMS is committed to managing sickness absence effectively, and in meeting the 2003 target for reduced sickness absence as set out in the Service Delivery Agreements (SDA).

Sport (Stakeholder Support)

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent discussions she has had with (a) the Independent Football Commission, (b) football supporters' associations, (c) football clubs, (d) the Football Association and (e) the Football League regarding supporter and other stakeholder involvement with clubs; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Caborn: I met Professor Derek Fraser, the Chairman of the Independent Football Commission, on 7 January to discuss a range of football issues including the involvement of supporters with clubs. DCMS officials regularly discuss issues of supporter involvement with the football authorities and supporters' representatives, most recently at the Football Association's meeting with supporters' groups on 13 January. The Football League and the Football Federation Supporters' Federation were represented at that meeting.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

A-level Results

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what percentage of children were achieving (a) five or more GCSEs at A*-C grade, and (b) at least one GCSE at A*-G grade in (i) specialist schools, (ii) city technology colleges, (iii) all other comprehensives, (iv) grammar schools and (v) secondary modern schools.

David Miliband: The information requested for the 2001 results is shown in the following table. The 2002 performance tables are due to be published later in January and I will write to the hon. Member with the updated information as soon as the data are available. I will also place a copy of the 2002 data in the Library.
	
		
			  Average percentage of children gaining:  
			 Type of school 5 or more A*-C GCSE/GNVQ(3) 1 or more A*-C GCSE/GNVQ(3) 
		
		
			 Specialist schools(1),(2) 54.4 96.9 
			 City technology colleges 78.0 99.0 
			 All other comprehensive schools(4) 45.6 95.8 
			 Grammar schools(1) 97.5 99.6 
			 Secondary modern schools(1) 36.8 95.8 
		
	
	(1) Includes 27 grammar schools and 20 secondary modern schools that are specialist schools. These schools are also included in the data for grammar and secondary modern schools.
	(2) Maintained schools (excluding special schools) designated and operating as specialist schools as at September 2000.
	(3) Results shown on same basis as Secondary Performance Tables i.e. adjusted for refugees and admitted pupils.
	(4) Excludes specialist schools, grammar schools and secondary modern schools.

Centres of Vocational Excellence

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Centres of Vocational Excellence have been established and in what specialisms; and how many have been established by (a) colleges, (b) private training providers and (c) employers.

Ivan Lewis: Excellent progress has been made in establishing Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVEs). 157 CoVEs have been created so far and in the Spending Review we announced additional funding to establish a total of 400 CoVEs by 2006.
	These CoVEs cover a range of specialisms and have a geographical spread to ensure local, regional and national skills needs are addressed. The following table sets out the range of specialisms (by number and percentage of current network):
	
		
			 Specialism Number of CoVEs Percentage of current CoVE network 
		
		
			 Engineering 36 23 
			 Construction 23 15 
			 Hospitality/Tourism 22 14 
			 Creative Industries 20 13 
			 Health/Care 17 11 
			 ICT 16 10 
			 Land Based 7 4 
			 Business/Management 5 3 
			 Retail/Distributive 4 3 
			 Sport/Leisure 3 2 
			 Food Manufacture 2 1 
			 Hair/Beauty 2 1 
		
	
	Of the 157 CoVEs established to date 138 are in Further Education colleges. 19 are in work based learning providers. Of these 8 are in private training providers, 8 in group training associations and three in large companies.

Child Care

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many child care staff have been trained through learning and skills councils.

Ivan Lewis: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. John Harwood, the Council's chief executive will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Libraries.

Departmental Consultation

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his reason was for the duration of the consultation on the code of practice on admissions which concluded on 11 October 2002.

David Miliband: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 14 January, Official Report, column 562W.

Departmental Projects

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (a) which projects will be funded and (b) how much will be spent on each project, in areas covered by each sub-category in table 4.2 of the Departmental report 2002 in (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04.

Charles Clarke: We are in the process of finalising expected programme expenditure for the current year and will make any necessary changes through the spring supplementary estimate which will be presented to Parliament in due course. Overall expenditure is likely to exceed the provision set out in the Departmental report through the planned use of accumulated end-year flexibility.
	My Statement to the House of 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 67WS, set out planned expenditure for 2003–04. I will be making a Statement on funding for higher education later this month.

Departmental Special Advisers

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the (a) names, (b) salaries and (c) responsibilities of each special adviser employed by his Department are.

Charles Clarke: The Special Advisers in the Department for Education and Skills are Robert Hill and Lisa Tremble. They advise on the full range of education and skills issues for which the Department is responsible.
	The salaries of Special Advisers are determined by a job evaluation process undertaken by the Special Advisers' Remuneration Committee.
	Details of individual Special Adviser salaries are not given in order to protect the privacy of the individual concerned.

Departmental Underspend

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on underspend for his Department in (a) the current financial year and (b) each of the last five financial years.

Charles Clarke: Final expenditure figures for 2002–03 are not available until the publication of the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper in July 2003.
	Figures for 1997–98 to 2001–02 are presented in the following table:
	
		# million 
		
			  1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Total in year underspend 72 261 615 1,128 1,246 
			 Of which:  
			 DfES 72 259 536 998 1,111 
			 Sure Start — 2 76 129 71 
			 Ofsted 0 0 4 1 3 
			 Children's Fund — — — — 61 
		
	
	The main reason for these in-year variances from plans stems from the nature of the Department's budgets and the difficulties this causes in forecasting spending accurately. For example: new and innovative programmes such as Sure Start rely on the pace of build up of local partnerships; capital projects can also take longer than anticipated to get off the ground; and the Department has a significant number of demand led budgets. The availability of End-Year Flexibility is designed to allow us to manage such fluctuations sensibly over a number of years.
	This year my Department intends to utilise approximately #600 million accumulated End-Year Flexibility, across a range of priorities, this will be drawn down at the spring Supplementary Estimate in February. The planned use of over #880 million accumulated End-Year Flexibility for years beyond 2002–03 was tabled in my statement of 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 67WS.
	Notes:
	1. All figures represent in year underspends with the exception of 1997–98 which includes cumulative underspends from the previous year. They are measured against the Departmental Expenditure Limit including any accumulated End-Year Flexibility drawn down in the year concerned.
	2. Figures exclude Welfare to Work and the Employment Service prior to the machinery of government changes in June 2001.
	3. Figures are not comparable due to the change to Resource Accounting and Budgeting in 1998–99. Figures for 1997–98 are in cash accounting terms.

Development Teaching

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made in the teaching of development issues in state schools; and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Pupils study international development issues as part of both the citizenship curriculum—now statutory in secondary schools—and within geography. Primary pupils learn about living in a diverse world through citizenship, and about less economically developed countries through geography as part of studying water, settlements and environmental issues. As they progress to secondary level, they are taught about the world as a global community, including the political, economic, environmental and social implications of this, both through geography and citizenship. We have worked with educational bodies in this field, such as the Development Education Association, to produce a teaching resource: XCitizenship, the Global Dimension". QCA has also sent detailed guidance to all schools to help teachers to develop pupils international understanding at various stages of their learning.

Mandarin

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  what level of funding has been required from secondary schools in relation to offering Mandarin on the curriculum in the next financial year; and what level of funding has been allocated to the subject;
	(2)  how many secondary schools that are (a) providing and (b) pursuing specialist status on languages will have the teaching of Mandarin on the curriculum;
	(3)  how many secondary schools taught Mandarin as an extra-curricular subject in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002; and how many taught Mandarin as part of the curriculum in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2002;
	(4)  what resources were allocated to train teachers to teach Mandarin in (a) 1997 and (b) 2002.

David Miliband: The Department does not allocate funding for the teaching of specific individual languages. The National Curriculum requirement is that all maintained secondary schools should offer one of the working languages of European Union. Over and above that, it is for schools to decide which and how many additional languages they choose to offer. There are no specific resources allocated by the Department to train teachers in Mandarin. It is up to Initial Teacher Training providers to choose which languages to include in the courses they offer. However, the Government does allocate #300,000 per year to the British Council run UK-China Educational Co-operation programme, which includes language immersion courses in Mandarin Chinese for teachers and pupils and the exchange of language assistants.
	Although there is a strong language learning element to the programme, the UK-China Educational Co-operation programme, which has been running since 2000, also provides grants for school linking visits, joint curriculum projects, electronic curriculum links and head teacher study visits.
	There are no figures available on how many language colleges offer Mandarin but 50 of the 157 language colleges offer Chinese. Aspiring language colleges are not required to give advance notice to the Department of the languages they intend to include in their applications so it is not possible to indicate how many intend to teach Mandarin. However language colleges are encouraged to diversify their language provision and Chinese continues to be a popular choice for applicant schools. Specialist applications are assessed by independent assessors and are not approved by the Department on the basis of a specified range of modern foreign languages.
	From an analysis of OFSTED inspection reports for 1997–98, no mention is made of Mandarin. From the reports of secondary schools inspected by OFSTED for 2001–02, it is noted that four schools taught Mandarin as part of the curriculum, four taught Mandarin as an extra-curriculum subject and three other schools taught Chinese as part of the curriculum.

Modern Apprenticeships

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many employers with (a) 25 employees or more and (b) less than 25 employees, were involved in modern apprenticeships in (i) 2000, (ii) 2001 and (iii) 2002.

Ivan Lewis: Data are only available for 2001. The Learning and Training at Work Survey in England for that year indicates that 12,000 employers with 25 or more employees had participated in modern apprenticeships in the previous 12 months and 24,000 with between one and 24 employees. The results of the 2002 survey are due to be published by the Department shortly.

New Schools (Private Companies)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new schools have been funded by private companies since 1997; and how many are planned.

David Miliband: All new maintained schools are funded principally through public funds, but promoters of voluntary aided schools generally provide 10 per cent. of the capital costs. The Department does not maintain any records of the source of the 10 per cent. funding for the establishment of any new voluntary aided schools, or any significant contribution to the costs of establishing any other maintained school.
	Academies are publicly funded independent schools with private and voluntary sector sponsors contributing up to 20 per cent. of the capital cost. Three Academies opened in September 2002, one of which is sponsored by a private sector company. A further nine will open in September 2003. At least 33 Academies will be open by 2006.

Performance Targets

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on his Department's performance against its public service agreement targets on truancy, literacy and numeracy.

Ivan Lewis: The Department publishes progress against all its outstanding public service agreement targets (PSAs) in its annual departmental report and autumn performance report. Progress against PSAs was most recently reported in the 2002 autumn report, published in November 2002, together with commentary where appropriate. A copy of the report is available from the House of Commons Library.

Plant Hire

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what discussions he has had with the Construction Industry Training Board about the levy made on plant hire construction.

Ivan Lewis: I have had no discussions with the Construction Industry Training Board about the levy made on plant hire construction.

Plant Hire

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to meet representatives of the Hire Association Europe to discuss the Construction Industry Training Board levy made on members' companies in the hire industry.

Ivan Lewis: One of my officials met with Mr. John Coyne, Managing Director of the Hire Association Europe on 27 November last. I have no plans to meet with them.

Plant Hire

Bob Laxton: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what action he proposes to take arising from the judgment of the hon. Mr. Justice Keith in the High Court of Justice, Queen's Bench Division, on 23 November 2001, about Gibbon Equipment Hire Ltd. and the Construction Industry Training Board.

Ivan Lewis: The judgment by Mr. Justice Keith concluded that the definition of 'contractor's plant' in the Industrial Training (Construction Board) Order 1964 (Amendment Order) 1992 was clear, unequivocal and unambiguous. Also that Gibbon Equipment Hire was an employer in the construction industry, and therefore, required to pay the CITB levy.
	However, I have agreed to consider whether the hiring out of plant and equipment should continue to be included in the definition of the construction industry, and am awaiting proposals from the hire service sector.

Ring-fenced Grants

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many ring-fenced grants (a) are provided and (b) were provided in each of the last five years to (i) each school in England and (ii) each local education authority in England; and what the (A) name, (B) purpose and (C) financial value of each was.

David Miliband: The following ring-fenced grants have been provided by the Department since 1997–98:
	Standards Fund Grant (1997–98 to 2002–03)
	The Government's main means of targeting funds towards national priorities, such as the literacy and numeracy strategies and Excellence in Cities to reflect the central priority of raising standards in schools.
	School Standards Grant (2000–01 to 2002–03)
	To help schools to improve standards.
	School Budget Support Grant (2000–01)
	To increase the budget shares of schools maintained by local education authorities.
	Education Budget Support Grant (2001–02)
	To provide support to help some local education authorities manage funding changes in the financial year.
	Post Sixteen Budget Support Grant (2002–03):
	To provide support to local education authorities in respect of the transfer of funding for sixth form provision to the Learning and Skills Council.
	Teachers' Pay Reform Special Grants (2000–01 to 2002–03): To support the costs of the teachers pay reforms.
	Nursery Education Grant (1997–98 to 2002–03)
	To providers of early education to enable them to make free high quality, part-time early education places available to eligible children.
	Childcare Grant (1998–99 to 2002–03)
	To help improve locally, the infrastructure for the provision of child care.
	GM Transitional Funding Grant (2000–01 to 2001–02)
	To contribute towards local authority expenditure on the costs of transitional funding paid to former grant-maintained and grant-maintained special schools.
	GM Transitional Insurance Grant (1999–2000 to 2002–03)
	To help schools meet the cost of any insurance contract entered into when they were still grant-maintained schools.
	Education Action Zone Grant (1998–99 to 2002–03)
	To enable local partnerships of schools, parents and the private sector to develop innovative and radical solutions which will raise educational standards.
	Education Maintenance Allowance (1999–2000 to 2002–03)
	A financial incentive targeted at young people from less well off families to encourage them to enter and remain in further education.
	Capital Grants (1997–98 to 2002–03)
	To assist in raising educational standards by contributing towards meeting the capital investment needs of buildings at schools including condition, suitability, sufficiency and modernisation needs.
	Most funding provided by the Department is distributed via local education authorities (LEAs). EAZ funding is paid direct to the EAZ and not to the LEA. All maintained schools receive almost all their public funding from their LEA. The Department does not hold information on funding provided to individual schools.
	Copies of tables giving a breakdown of the funding allocated for the above grants to each LEA in England since 1997–98 have been placed in the House of Commons Library. 2002–03 figures are to date and provisional. There are some gaps in 1997–98 as some LEAs only came into being the following year. For Standards Fund Grant in 1997–98 the allocations are shown against the 'successor' LEAs. Capital funding does not include Basic Need, when this has been allocated via Basic Credit Approvals which are un-hypothecated.
	As part of the Government's commitment to reducing the proportion of support for local authorities provided as ring-fenced grants, we have ensured all of the growth in schools spending announced in the Spending Review will go direct to schools. DfES support will in future increasingly be provided through local authorities' Education Formula Spending Shares, which, following the outcome of the Spending Review and transfers of funding from DfES grant budgets, will be #5.6 billion higher in 2005–06, compared to 2002–03. The number of ring-fenced grants, and the level of support provided through ring-fenced grants, will fall over the next three years from 13 per cent. of the total school spending to 11 per cent.

School Funding (Faith Organisations)

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many new schools have been funded by faith organisations since 1997, broken down by faith; and how many are planned.

David Miliband: The following table gives numbers of new grant maintained and voluntary aided faith schools that have opened, or have been approved to open, since 1997. These include independent schools approved for establishment as new maintained schools; but do not include former community schools which closed and re-opened with a religious character. All these proposals, except one Jewish school, involved some capital building work and a financial contribution by the promoters.
	
		
			  RC CE CE/ Methodist Jewish Muslim Sikh 7th Day Adventist Greek Orthodox 
		
		
			 1997 3 — — — — — — — 
			 1998 — — — 1 2 — 1 — 
			 1999 2 1 — 3 — 2 — — 
			 2000 2 1 — 1 — — — 1 
			 2001 1 2 — — 2 — — — 
			 2002 — 3 — — — — — — 
			 2003 1 3 1 — — — — — 
			 2004 — 1 — 1 1 — — — 
			 Total 9 11 1 6 5 2 1 1

School Standards

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the additional costs of achieving the targets contained in his Department's report, XTime for Standards", on recruiting (a) extra teachers and (b) extra support staff.

David Miliband: We are committed during this Parliament to the recruitment of at least an extra 10,000 extra teachers. We also estimate that there will be 50,000 new support staff in the same period. Both figures are for full-time equivalents.
	The additional pay bill costs 1 in the 2005–06 academic year, compared to the 2000–01 academic year, of the additional teachers are estimated as some #200 million.
	The costs of the additional support staff will depend on school decisions about the level and mix of support staff they recruit and the wide range of support staff pay levels for different roles. The additional pay bill costs 1 in the 2005–06 academic year, compared to the 2000–01 academic year, are estimated as some #650–750 million.
	Total school revenue budgets will rise by some #6 billion in the 2005–06 financial year compared to this year.
	1 At today's prices and including NI and superannuation.

Logistics (Skills)

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support the Government have committed to the Sector Skills Council for the logistics industry.

Ivan Lewis: The Skills for Logistics Expression of Interest for a Sector Skills Council (SSC) was accepted, on 18 December 2002, by the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA). This will result in the SSDA committing development funding of up to #100,000 to help the sector prepare its bid for SSC status. If the resulting SSC bid is successful, Skills for Logistics will receive a full SSC licence and be eligible for up to #1 million a year from the SSDA to meet its core costs.
	In addition to the financial support the SSDA has provided advisory support to the logistics sector in the form of a dedicated business consultant who has been giving support and guidance to the sector since December 2001. This support has included advice on preparing their expression of interest and will continue throughout the six month development stage.

Selection

Jenny Tonge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what mechanisms have been set up to ensure that schools set up by private companies and faith organisations (a) do not select their pupils, (b) follow the national curriculum, (c) teach science, including Darwin's theory of evolution and (d) protect the human rights of female students.

David Miliband: The information is as follows:
	(a) Selection
	All new maintained schools are prohibited from selecting pupils by high academic ability by the School Standards and Framework Act (SSFA) 1998. The SSFA permits fair banding whereby schools select a proportion of pupils from each part of the full range of abilities. Academies and City Technology Colleges (CTCs) are prohibited from selecting by high academic ability by virtue of their funding agreements.
	Schools with a specialism in a prescribed subject are allowed to select up to 10 per cent. of pupils by aptitude in that subject.
	Schools with a religious character are allowed in their admission criteria to give preference to adherents of their faith or denomination.
	(b) National curriculum
	All maintained schools, including those set up by faith organisations, are required to teach the National Curriculum. Academies are required through their funding agreements broadly to follow the National Curriculum and the national system of assessing it. CTCs are required to provide a broad and balanced curriculum with an emphasis on science and technology, and to teach the core and other foundation subjects of the National Curriculum. They are not required to follow the National Curriculum programmes of study, although most do so.
	(c) Science curriculum
	The National Curriculum requires all pupils to study the Science Curriculum at key stages 1, 2, 3 and 4 (ages 5–16). At key stage 4 pupils study the fossil record as evidence for evolution and how variation and selection may lead to evolution or extinction. Schools do teach how scientific controversies can arise from the interpretation of empirical evidence and this is likely to include Darwin's theory of evolution. Pupils are encouraged to explore different views, theories and beliefs. The origins of the universe are also addressed in the teaching of religious education at key stage 3 (ages 11–14).
	(d) Human rights
	The human rights of female students are protected by legislation. All maintained schools, including those set up by faith organisations, must comply with the Race Relations and Sex Discrimination Acts, and with the Human Rights Act. The Human Rights Act provides a right to education without discrimination on any grounds, including sex and religion. Its application extends to female pupils in Academies and CTCs.

Teachers' Pay

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he is taking to harmonise (a) pay rates and (b) pay scales between teachers in schools and further education, and if he will make a statement.

David Miliband: Further education colleges are independent corporations responsible for determining the pay and conditions of their staff. Therefore, it is not for the Government to harmonise FE and school teacher pay scales.

Truancy

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many school days were lost due to truancy in Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Ivan Lewis: The number of school days lost due to truancy in Lancashire since 1997 are as follows:
	
		
			 Academic year (September-May) Number of day pupils of compulsory school age Number of school days lost due to truancy 
		
		
			 1996–97(5) 201,219 176,296 
			 1997–98 159,143 129,313 
			 1998–99 162,583 150,654 
			 1999–2000 162,979 140,519 
			 2000–01 160,768 135,585 
			 2001–02 159,398 136,053 
		
	
	(5) The figures for 1996–97 are pre local government reorganisation and are not directly comparable with the other years.

Union Learning Representatives

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Union Learning Representatives there are within his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: There is currently one Union Learning Representative in the Department. My officials are working with the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), the main civil service union, on how best to promote the development of Union Learning Representatives within the Department.

Union Learning Representatives

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the Government's budget is for the promotion of Union Learning representatives in the (a) public and (b) private sectors; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Government does not have a specific budget for the promotion of Union Learning Representatives in either the public or the private sector. We recognise, however, that trade unions and their learning representatives have a key role to play in promoting the development of learning and skills in the workplace. To help them do this, my Department has provided financial support through the Union Learning Fund since 1988. This year (2002–03) #9 million is available and a further #33.6 million has been allocated for the next three years up to 2005–06.
	When it was launched, the Union Learning Fund was a new and innovative experiment, but it has now become an established part of the lifelong learning agenda. It is helping trade unions use their influence with employers, employees and others to encourage greater take up of learning at work and boost their capacity as learning organisations. It has so far benefited over 28,000 people in the workplace through a wide variety of projects ranging from tackling basic skills needs to advanced professional development. It has also led to the development of a new breed of activist, the Union Learning Representative, and has helped to establish and train a growing network which now stands at more than 4,000 learning representatives nationwide.
	Union Learning Representatives are ideally placed to help and encourage workers to improve their skills, particularly amongst the very lowest skilled workers and those with literacy and numeracy problems. That is why we have included a clause in the new Employment Bill that will give statutory backing to Union Learning Representatives. It will reinforce the invaluable role that Union Learning Representatives are currently playing in the workplace to promote workforce development and open up new training opportunities for their colleagues.
	Any trade union based in England can submit an application to the Union Learning Fund. A prospectus inviting bids for Union Learning Fund projects for the coming year was sent to trade unions at the end of November. This information is also available electronically via the DfES or TUC Learning Services websites. The closing date for applications is 24 January.

Union Learning Representatives

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills whether Union Learning representatives will be made available in job centres; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: There are around 70 ULRs working in the Department for Work and Pensions. It is not known how many of these are working in Jobcentre Plus.

Vocational Placements

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) Beacon Schools, (b) Specialist Schools, (c) Centres of Vocational Excellence and (d) Education Business Links are involved in the part-time vocational placements announced in the Green Paper X14–19: Extending Opportunities, Raising Standards".

David Miliband: The Department is in the process of collecting this type of data about the XIncreased Flexibility for 14–16 Year Olds" programme —analysis of the baseline will be available in the spring.

SCOTLAND

Boundary Commission for Scotland

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how long after receiving the final report from the Boundary Commission for Scotland she intends to lay (a) the report and (b) the orders required to implement it before the House.

Helen Liddell: The Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 requires me to lay the Boundary Commission for Scotland's report before Parliament, together with the draft of an Order in Council for giving effect, with or without modifications, to the report's recommendations, as soon as may be after receiving it from the Commission.

Departmental Staff

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many full-time equivalent staff are employed in the Department; and what the equivalent figures were for 1997.

Helen Liddell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office.

Electoral Registers

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many electors there are in each Westminster parliamentary constituency in Scotland as set out in the latest electoral registers.

Helen Liddell: The Office for National Statistics is responsible for the collection and annual publication of data on the electorate. I understand that the figures for the electorate as at December 2002 will be published on 27 February 2003.

Friends of Scotland Initiative

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her estimate is of the cost of the Friends of Scotland initiative; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: The Friends of Scotland initiative was launched in November 2001. The total cost of the initiative since then, not including staff costs, is #239,000.

Public Service Agreements

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the key Public Service Agreement targets of her Department are; what her latest estimate is of progress in relation to each target; and if she will make a statement.

Helen Liddell: The Friends of Scotland initiative was launched in November 2001. The total cost of the initiative since then, not including staff costs, is #239,000.

Public Spending

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what her estimate is of public spending per head from all sources in Scotland in the last year for which figures are available, originating from (a) local councils, (b) the Devolved Government and (c) Central Government.

Helen Liddell: The latest estimates of public expenditure for Scotland were published in the annual Treasury publication, XPublic Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2002–03". The next edition of this publication is expected in the spring.
	Table 6.9 shows local authority expenditure in Scotland for 2000–01 as #8,974 million, equivalent to #1,773 per head of Scotland's population. Table 8.7 shows total identifiable expenditure under Scottish Executive programmes in 2000–01 as #17,557 million, equivalent to #3,468 per head of Scotland's population.
	Table 8.7 also shows identifiable expenditure by other Central Government Departments in Scotland in 2000–01 of #10,871 million, equivalent to #2,148 per head of Scotland's population. In addition, there is #40,436 million of non-identifiable expenditure which is not specifically associated with a particular part of the UK.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Chemicals Policy

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) the effect of the European Commission's Strategy for a future chemicals policy on the future competitiveness of the UK's chemical industry and (b) the level of UK skilled resource required to implement the strategy; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The overall aim and approach set out in the Commission's White Paper of February 2001 on a strategy for a Future Chemicals Policy are supported by the Government.
	In May 2001, the Government prepared a preliminary regulatory impact assessment (RIA) of the proposals in the European Commission's White Paper. A revised RIA will be required when proposals for the European Commission's legislation are available. As well as considering the benefits and costs of the proposals in detail, the RIA will include an assessment of the implications of the proposed legislation for the international competitiveness of the UK chemicals industry and other manufacturing sectors that use chemicals in their processes and products.
	The Government and Devolved Administrations have agreed a position statement on the New European Chemical Strategy, a copy of this is in the House Library and can be found on the Defra web site at www.defra.gov.uk. The result of this additional work will need to be taken into account before developing a final view.

Agricultural Exports

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) her Department has spent and (b) has been raised through (i) its agricultural export promotion service and (ii) Food from Britain in each of the last 10 years.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 December 2002
	The information is as follows:
	
		(a) Departmental spend on its agricultural export promotion service(6)
		
			 Year Spend #000 
		
		
			 2001–02 1,111 
			 2000–01 1,240 
			 1999–2000 1,318 
			 1998–99 1,407 
			 1997–98 1,240 
			 1996–97 1,384 
			 1995–96 1,651 
		
	
	(6) Cash prices. Figures for years prior to 1995/6 not available because of organisational changes.
	Note:
	The Department has not charged for any aspect of its export promotion service and consequently, no money has been raised through this service.
	
		(b) Departmental grants to Food from Britain and amounts raised by Food from Britain through fee income for specific services provided to companies or organisations 1992–2002(7) -- #000
		
			  Departmental grant to FFB FFB fee(7)income for services provided 
		
		
			 2001–02 7,868 7,787 
			 2000–01 5,402 7,029 
			 1999–2000 4,986 6,406 
			 1998–99 5,282 7,234 
			 1997–98 4,918 6,491 
			 1996–97 5,318 6,177 
			 1995–96 5,400 6,165 
			 1994–95 5,249 4,698 
			 1993–94 5,009 4,026 
			 1992–93 4,757 3,836 
		
	
	(7) Cash prices

Agricultural Exports

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to promote agricultural exports from small and medium sized businesses in the UK.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 December 2002
	Defra's Agricultural Exports Branch has a varied programme of export promotion measures, including seminars, inward trade missions and a presence at key trade events abroad, all designed to provide a showcase for British excellence in agriculture. These measures are specifically devised to benefit small and medium sized companies and producers.

Agricultural Exports

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations she has received from and discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, (b) ERM Consultancy and (c) other organisations and individuals regarding the export promotion service for agricultural exports.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment has received a letter from the Minister of State for International Trade and Investment, enclosing a copy of a report undertaken for her by ERM assessing the effectiveness of various central Government Departments international trade support services. ERM's consultants had previously had discussion with DEFRA officials. Ministerial colleagues have also received representations regarding the agricultural export promotion service from the China-Britain Business Council, the hon. Member for Lichfield (Michael Fabricant) and two individual companies.

Food from Britain

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when Food From Britain was last subject to a review by (a) her Department and (b) other Departments; and if she will place a copy of the review in the Library.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 19 December 2002
	A full quinquennial review of the efficiency and effectiveness of Food from Britain was completed by the Department (then MAFF) in 1998. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library. In common with other non-departmental public bodies within the responsibilities of the Department, a specific review of Food from Britain's system of corporate governance was undertaken by the Department's internal audit division in 2002. Food from Britain has not been reviewed by other Departments.

Agricultural Shows

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of livestock movement controls on agricultural shows; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The current rules already allow animals of all species to move to shows even if there is a standstill in place on their farm of origin, to move from show to show or to return to their farm of origin without triggering a 20-day standstill, provided they are individually identified and kept in isolation for 20 days before the first show, between shows, and on final return to the farm.
	A detailed risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis into the 20-day standstill is currently being carried out in line with the FMD Inquiry recommendations. We hope to be able to take account of the emerging findings to make decisions soon so that any agreed changes can be introduced in time for the 2003 spring movement season.

Ancient Woodland

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she intends to implement the proposals to protect England's ancient woodland as set out in (a) the Forest Partnership for action and (b) Working with the Grain of Nature; a biodiversity strategy for England.

Elliot Morley: At the World Summit on Sustainable-Development in Johannesburg we launched the UK Forest Partnership for Action bringing together government, forest industry and environmental groups with a commitment to working together to promote sustainable development in the forest sector. Each partner will make their own contribution to the four priority areas, one of which is forest restoration and protection, through a range of actions.
	As set out in the biodiversity strategy for England we will be refining our approach to the conservation and restoration of ancient woodland, including research to increase our knowledge of the condition of woodland and practical action on the Forestry Commission's own estate to enhance biodiversity. We will also be revising our package of incentives to ensure they help protect and enhance ancient woodland, developing ways of providing more direct advice to owners, and ways of promoting the high value of ancient woodlands.
	One of the main threats to ancient woodland is the impact of adjacent agricultural activity and that is why the new entry-level agri-environment scheme pilots include woodlands. The scheme provides support for the maintenance of woodland fencing and the creation of buffer strips adjacent to woodlands. Both these measures will reduce or avoid any adverse impacts on woodland from adjacent agricultural activities.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the Government Departments responsible for provision of emergency telecommunication services about minimising the (a) numbers and (b) environmental impact of transmitters located in (i) AONBs and (ii) national parks.

Alun Michael: Defra officials met officials from the Home Office and Department for Trade and Industry in February 2002, and met officials from the Planning Division of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in December 2002. The meetings addressed the level of coverage required by the emergency services against the need to contain the number of telecommunication masts in AONBs and national parks, and to minimise the impact of the installation of essential masts.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was paid to the Countryside Agency for AONBs in 2002–03, for core costs and projected expenditure, broken down by AONB.

Alun Michael: For 2002–03, Defra has provided the Countryside Agency with an extra #2.5 million to increase core funding for AONBs and cover the necessary costs incurred by local authorities in preparing and publishing statutory AONB management plans. This has raised the AONB programme budget to #6.2 million. It is for the Agency to allocate monies to individual AONBs. I am advised by the Agency that currently the national figure is only broken down to a regional level. The Agency is moving to resource accounting this year, so that accurate figures by AONB will be available shortly.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the timetable is for the creation of the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Conservation Boards under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000;
	(2)  when the secondary legislation necessary for the establishment of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Conservation Boards for the Chilterns and the Cotswolds will be considered by Parliament.

Alun Michael: Subject to successful completion of the current preparations, we plan to consult on draft statutory instruments establishing Conservation Boards for the Chilterns and the Cotswolds from March to June this year. I would then expect the orders to be laid (in draft form) before both Houses after Parliament returns from the summer recess. The orders would be subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to encourage AONBs to become recognised as biosphere reserves by UNESCO; and what support her Department will provide to successful applicants.

Elliot Morley: Any area considered for nomination as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve will need to fulfil the specific criteria for that designation. AONBs can be a useful supporting mechanism for a Biosphere Reserve as is the case with the recently extended Biosphere Reserve at Braunton Burrows in Devon. An area designated as AONB will not automatically meet the criteria for Biosphere Reserves. It is for the UK Man and Biosphere (UK MAB) Committee to consider applications for Biosphere Reserve status. The Committee will shortly be considering the next steps following the review of UK Biosphere Reserves. The Government will consider any proposal put forward by the UK MAB Committee on its individual merits for submission to UNESCO.
	There is no funding programme specifically for Biosphere Reserves, but Biosphere Reserve status has the potential to provide an area with a framework for attracting relevant funding streams such as LEADER+ and stimulating investment. The Government support AONBs generally in England through the AONB programme, which in 2003–04, will receive grants worth more than #6 million. The Countryside Agency, who administers this funding on behalf of Government, pays up to 75 per cent. of an AONBs core costs and 50 per cent. of its project costs.

British Cattle Movement Service

Peter Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many inquiries regarding lost documentation at the British Cattle Movement Service are under investigation.

Alun Michael: The British Cattle Movement Service operates to ISO 9001:2000 standards, is registered with the British Standards Institute and its operating practices have received the Kite mark. All documents received by the organisation are scanned electronically and recorded on arrival, and great care is taken to avoid any loss.
	It is likely that this question refers specifically to movement notifications made by cattle keepers to the British Cattle Movement Service. BCMS has received around 22,000 representations about movement notification failures since May this year from around England, Scotland and Wales. Some cattle keepers have claimed to have told the BCMS about cattle movements, when their computerised records have been cross checked and deficiencies found, as part of the subsidy claims checking process. The Rural Payments Agency and the BCMS check these cases very carefully, and it is not right to assume that the BCMS has lost keepers' movement notification when there is no evidence of the document ever arriving at the BCMS site.
	If keepers want to guarantee that their notifications are received by BCMS, they can send them electronically to BCMS using the online system at: www.bcms.gov.uk The BCMS are encouraging all cattle keepers to register their records via the cattle tracing system online.

British Cattle Movement Service

Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to improve administrative (a) accuracy and (b) efficiency at the British Cattle Movement Service.

Alun Michael: The cattle passport scheme has been in operation for over six years now and the national cattle database contains the details of the 9.4 million animals that make up the national herd. We are currently investing a further #12 million to upgrade the system and improve its performance.
	The British Cattle Movement Service operates to ISO 9001:2000 standards, is registered with the British Standards Institute and its operating practices have received the Kite mark. In addition to paper reporting systems, we have provided online facilities via a website for cattle keepers to register their animals. CTS Online was runner-up in the Government Computer Innovation Award in June 2002. The BCMS is constantly striving to improve their service and efficiency.

Cetacean Bycatch

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment has been made of the trials into the use of exclusion devices developed by the Sea Mammal Research Unit to reduce the bycatch of cetaceans in pelagic trawl fisheries.

Elliot Morley: During March and April last year the Sea Mammal Research Unit at St. Andrews University made encouraging progress in developing and testing separator grids during their monitoring work on the seasonal bass fishery off South West England. Some further work was carried out in December 2002 to refine the gear but planned trials at sea could not take place because of an accident involving one of the vessels chartered for the trial. The trial will now be resumed in spring once the commercial fishery restarts in order to further refine the system and assess its suitability for protecting dolphins in the fishery.

Cetacean Bycatch

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the deaths of dolphins in Devon and Cornwall in December 2002; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Full figures detailing the deaths of dolphins and other cetaceans in Devon and Cornwall in December 2002 are not yet available and so an assessment has not yet been made.

Cetacean Bycatch

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with other European Governments regarding cetacean bycatch;
	(2)  what recent discussions she has had with the European Commission on the issue of dolphins and other cetaceans being trapped in fishing nets.

Elliot Morley: I have written to Commissioner Fischler and to the French Minister pressing the need for action in this area and will continue to press the issue with EU Ministers. The Commission produced a draft discussion paper on these issues last year as part of its commitment under the reform of the Common Fisheries Policy to introduce measures to reduce cetacean bycatch. It is now for the Commission to bring forward concrete proposals, and when these come to the Council of Ministers for discussion I shall press for effective measures to be introduced.

CHP Strategy

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish the final version of her Department's draft CHP Strategy.

Elliot Morley: The Government published its draft CHP Strategy for consideration on 15 May 2002. Responses to the Strategy consultation were summarised on Defra's website last November, and provide an important input to the Energy White Paper, which the Government aim to publish shortly. The White Paper will set out the Government's strategic approach to encouraging the further growth of CHP.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many departmental Christmas cards she and her Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if she will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card she has sent this year.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 19 December 2002
	Defra Ministers sent approximately 800 official Christmas cards in 2002, at a cost of #0.65 each, and total postage of #160. Clerical staff in Ministers' Private Offices spent the equivalent of approximately 22 man hours, at a cost of #10 per hour, addressing and placing the cards in envelopes. A sample copy of the official Christmas card will be placed in the Library.
	All expenditure incurred in the purchase and despatch of official Christmas cards is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principles set out in XGovernment Accounting".

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much will be spent on (a) entertaining, (b) Christmas decorations and (c) other festive activities this Christmas season by her Department and Government agencies answerable to her Department; and of this sum, how much will be spent in Ministers' (i) private offices and (ii) official residences.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 19 December 2002
	The information requested could not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs. However, any expenditure incurred on decorations, entertainment and any other festive activities is strictly for official purposes only, and is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on the principals set out in XGovernment Accounting".

Common Fisheries Policy

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will review the Common Fisheries Policy with the EU; and whether conditionality on UK registered vessels to (a) land a percentage of catch in the UK, (b) have a minimum percentage of UK residents in the crew and (c) operate from UK ports will be part of the review.

Elliot Morley: Since 1 January 1999, and with the agreement of the European Commission, all vessels fishing against UK quotas have had to maintain a genuine economic link with coastal communities in the UK. Annual reports on the operation of these arrangements have been placed in the Library of the House, the last report covering the year 2001. We have no plans to seek a review of these arrangements.

Community Energy Programme

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the budget is for the Government's Community Energy programme in the financial year (a) 2002–03 and (b) 2003–04; what proportion of the funds available in each year have been committed to strategic research designed to secure the wider use of district energy schemes; what proportion of the funds in each year are absorbed by the administration of the programme by the Energy Saving Trust; and what plans there are for continuation of the programme beyond March 2004.

Elliot Morley: The Community Energy programme budget is #20 million in 2002–03 and #30 million in 2003–04. Up to #2 million of this is available for consultancy advice to develop bids. Support for strategic research to secure the wider use of district energy is funded and carried out separately, but informs the programme. The cost of the programme's administration by the Energy Saving Trust and the Carbon Trust is not met from the programme budget, but is separately funded by my Department. I hope that it will be possible to extend the programme beyond March 2004, but this is subject to resources being available.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Andrew Bennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will set out the timetable for the implementation of regulations under Part I of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Alun Michael: The table records the overall progress we have made towards consulting on, and bringing regulations into force, and our current timetable for completing the process. The precise timing of each of the remaining intermediate stages may vary but we are firmly committed to ensuring the necessary regulations are made so as to allow the new right of public access under the Act to be rolled out on a region by region basis as scheduled.
	
		
			 Regulation Section Consultation commenced Date regulations in force 
		
		
			 Regulations regarding mapping of access land and consultation on draft maps Section 11 March 2001 (ended June 2001) 1 November 2001 
			 Regulations regarding the establishment of LAFs and the appointment of members Section 94 (Part V) July 2001 (ended October 2001) 7 August 2002 
			 Regulations regarding issue of provisional maps, appeals, and issue of conclusive maps Section 11 November 2001 (ended 8 Feb 2002) 29 July 2002 
			 Regulations on correcting minor errors and omissions in provisional and conclusive maps Section 11 (2)(l) October 2002 (ended 7 November 2002) February 2003 
			 Regulations regarding dedication of land for access Section 16 January 2002 (ended 15 April 2002) March 2003 
			 Regulations relating to exclusion or restriction of access under Chapter II, including appeals (but not emergencies) Section 32 December 2001 (ended 22 March 2002) February 2003 
			 Regulations on removal or relaxation of restrictions on access land and to exclude access in emergencies (including appeals) Paragraph 7, Schedule 2; Section 31 February 2003 August 2003 
			 Regulations on appeals relating to notices Section 38 February 2003 September 2003 
			 Regulations on references to public places in existing enactments Section 42 March 2003 October 2003 
			 Regulations regarding review of conclusive maps Section 11 February 2004 August 2004

European Landscape Convention

Martin Caton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the Government intend to ratify the European Landscape Convention adopted by the Council of Europe in October 2000.

Alun Michael: The United Kingdom already meets many of the requirements of the European Landscape Convention and Defra has commissioned consultants to report on the costs and benefits of the UK deciding whether or not to sign and ratify the European Landscape Convention. That report, together with a Regulatory Impact Assessment, will inform the Government's decision which will be taken in the next few months.

Fishing Licences

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans she has to review the operation of UK fishing licences;
	(2)  how many UK fishing licences have been purchased by foreign owners operating from within the EU in each year since 1997;
	(3)  what recent reports she has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the purchase of UK fishing licences by foreign owners operating from EU member states;
	(4)  what estimate she has made of the proportion of boats over 10 metres in length in the UK offshore fishing fleet whose fishing licence is held by a non-UK resident EU national.

Elliot Morley: The operation of UK fishing vessel licences is kept under constant review, in consultation with the industry, through the Joint Industry/Departmental Licensing Working Group which meets regularly and last reported to Ministers in November 2002. In accordance with EU rules on freedom of movement and rights of establishment, EU nationals and corporate bodies incorporated in a member state may own and license vessels on the UK fishing vessel register provided that they are resident in the UK or have a place of business in the UK respectively or alternatively that they appoint a representative person in the UK. All vessels so owned must be managed, and their operations directed and controlled, from within the UK. They must also maintain an economic link with the UK. Reports on economic link compliance are published annually by Fisheries Departments and copies are available from the Library. Details of the number of licences acquired annually by foreign owners operating from within the EU are not recorded centrally by Fisheries Departments. However the reports on compliance include estimates since 1996 of the numbers of vessels which are understood to be beneficially owned in whole or in part by foreign interests. At 31 December 2001 there were 118 such vessels out of a registered over 10 metre fleet of 1,942 vessels, compared with 161 vessels out of a fleet of 2,467 vessels at 31 December 1996. There are currently nine vessels on the UK register whose licences are held by EU nationals not resident in, or companies not with a place of business in, the UK.

Flood Defence

Ian Liddell-Grainger: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the grant levels for flood defence throughout England are in (a) 2001–02, (b) 2002–03 and (c) 2003–04.

Elliot Morley: Defra provides grant aid as a percentage of eligible costs to the flood and coastal defence operating authorities—the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and internal drainage boards—to assist with capital works and studies to manage flood risk. Grant is also made to the EA to assist towards the cost of national initiatives (such as the national flood and coastal defence database, flood warning public awareness and catchment flood management plans) and in 2001–02 exceptional funding was provided to the EA following the floods of autumn 2000 for emergency response and repair works and feasibility and design costs for accelerated river defences.
	2001–02 and 2002–03
	Amounts of grant in cash terms were as follows.
	
		
			  2001–02 2002–03  
			  Grant rate (percentage) Grant (# million) Grant rate (percentage) Grant  (# million)(8)  
		
		
			 Environment Agency capital grant (9)— 42.3 (9)— 65.0 
			 Environment Agency national initiatives and special funding after 2000 floods n/a 19.2 n/a 5.0 
			 Local authorities 45 2.2 45 6.0 
			 Internal drainage boards 45 1.5 45 2.0 
		
	
	(8) Current provision, subject to change.
	(9) Capital grant to the EA is limited by Grant Earning Ceilings (GECs) which are set annually for each EA flood defence committee and represent the maximum amount of expenditure on which Defra will pay grant in the year to which they apply. Each committee is also set a grant rate annually at levels which are designed to provide extra support in those parts of the country where needs are higher, as compared to local resources. The following table shows EA GECs and grant rates for the two years.
	
		
			   2001–02  2002–03 
			  GEC (# million) Rate (percentage) GEC (# million) Rate (percentage) 
		
		
			 North west 7.8 35 9.1 45 
			 Northumbria 2.0 35 3.7 45 
			 Severn Trent 10.3 35 14.0 45 
			 Yorkshire 13.8 65 22.1 65 
			 Anglia, Essex 2.2 45 2.9 45 
			 Anglia, Great Ouse 5.3 45 3.7 55 
			 Anglia, Lincolnshire 8.6 75 7.7 75 
			 Anglia, Norfolk and Suffolk 5.7 76 10.1 75 
			 Anglia, Welland and Nene 3.6 65 3.6 65 
			 Thames 13.1 35 4.4 35 
			 Southern, Hampshire and Isle of Wight 1.1 45 1.2 45 
			 Southern, Kent 2.2 55 8.5 65 
			 Southern, Sussex 4.6 65 9.6 65 
			 Wessex, Avon and Dorset 0.4 35 1.0 35 
			 Wessex, Bristol Avon 0.3 35 0.4 35 
			 Wessex, Somerset 3.2 65 5.1 75 
			 South West 3.4 45 5.2 65 
		
	
	2003–04
	Allocations between operating authorities (including EA GECs and grant rates) for 2003–04 are still being considered.

Flooding

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her estimate is of how many homes flooded (a) in January and (b) in the previous three major floods.

Elliot Morley: I am advised that 645 houses were flooded during the floods over the New Year holiday. As for previous events, it depends on what the hon. Member defines as a major flood. Floods occur most winters although property flooding is generally avoided. Obviously we are all aware of the autumn 2000 event in which more than 10,000 homes were affected. In addition the 1998 flood remains in most people's memory and in that event more than 4,200 homes were flooded. Prior to that, probably the most notable was the flood event which occurred in September 1968 when large areas of the south west and southern England including south and south east London were flooded. We do not have detailed information on the number of properties that were flooded.

Foot and Mouth

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will pay invoices submitted to her Department by Peter Boddy Ltd. in connection with the slaughter of animals at Skipton, Thirsk and Whitby during the foot and mouth outbreak.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 7 January 2003
	Valid invoices submitted to the Department by Peter Boddy Ltd. in connection with the slaughter of animals during the foot and mouth outbreak have been paid. A legally binding full and final settlement agreement was made between the Department and Peter Boddy Ltd on 20 August, 2002.

Foot and Mouth

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will (a) authorise interest to be paid on the outstanding sums in the invoices rendered by Peter Boddy Ltd. and (b) make an ex-gratia payment to Peter Boddy Ltd. and his sub-contractor Mr.Houldey for the costs incurred in trying to obtain payment for her work during the foot and mouth outbreak.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 7 January 2003
	A legally binding full and final settlement agreement was made between the Department and Peter Boddy Ltd. on 20 August 2002. No moneys are owed by the Department to Peter Boddy Ltd. and Mr. Houldey. The Department wrote to Peter Boddy Ltd. on 3 December 2002 confirming no further payments would be made and that any question of Mr. Houldey's accounts were and remain a matter between Mr. Houldey and Peter Boddy Ltd.

GM Organisms

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the separation distances are between GM and non-GM or organic oilseed rape in North America.

Michael Meacher: The Canadian and US authorities do not require separation distances to be applied for commercial GM oilseed rape crops, but do require them for field trials. They distinguish between Brassica napus (which they call Argentine rape canola or swede rape) and Brassica rapa (which they call Polish rape canola or turnip rape). They do not differentiate separation distances based on whether the neighbouring crop is non-GM (conventional) or organic. In the UK the vast majority of the oilseed rape grown is Brassica napus, although some Brassica rapa is also grown. Cross-pollination frequency between B. napus and B. rapa is less than between plants of the same species. The separation distances in North America are as follows:
	
		Separation distances for GM rapeseed trials in North America
		
			  Brassica napus Brassica rapa 
		
		
			 Canada 200 metres from Brassica species or a 10 metre guard row of B. napus 400 metres from other B. rapa and 200 metres from other Brassica species, or a 100 metre guard row of B. rapa flowering concurrently with the GM rape 
			 USA 660 feet (201 metres) or a 30 foot (9.2 metre) border of non-GM rape flowering concurrently with the GM rape 1,320 feet (403 metres) or a 30 foot (9.2 metre) border of non-GM rape flowering concurrently with the GM rape

GM Organisms

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to her answer of 7 November 2002, Official Report, column 549W, on GM organisms, when she expects to conclude her consideration of the European Commission's proposals on thresholds for the adventitious presence of approved GM seeds in non-GM seeds.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 19 December 2002
	Since my reply of 7 November, it has become necessary to consider the implications of the settlement reached at the November Agriculture Council for a 0.9 per cent. threshold for GM food and feed labelling and we still await sight of the European Commission's final proposals on seeds on which member states will be asked to vote.
	The Government's considerations are informed by the need for policy to be based on sound science and to be practicable and enforceable. We aim to preserve consumer choice by seeking adequate protection for the integrity of non-GM seeds.

Industrial Action

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many working days have been lost in her Department and its predecessors due to industrial action in (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01, (e) 2001–02 and (f) 2002–03.

Alun Michael: During 2001–02 16,201 days were lost owing to industrial action by members of staff in the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and its Agencies.
	During 2002–03 to date 205 days were lost owing to industrial action by staff at the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) who are members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) and Prospect unions.
	During 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, and 2000–01, neither the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and food and its Agencies nor the sections of ex-DETR now part of Defra and their Agencies, lost any working days through industrial action by staff.

Liability Legislation

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what position Her Majesty's Government took at the last Agriculture Council in Luxembourg on proposals for specific liability legislation for GMOs; and if she will make a statement.

Michael Meacher: The Agriculture Council has not discussed specific proposals for GMO liability legislation. The Environment Council is at an early stage in its consideration of a draft environmental liability Directive that covers various activities including the release of GMOs.

Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms fall in nitrate vulnerable zones.

Elliot Morley: The total number of major farm holdings located in a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) in England is around 71,500. This figure is based upon Agricultural Census data 2000.

River Management

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans there are to divert water from the River Frome into the River Stour; if the consequences of flood risk will be taken account of in such plans; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: Neither the Government nor the Environment Agency are aware of any plans to divert water from the Dorset Frome to the River Stour. While a number of such schemes involving other rivers have been considered in the past there are no plans relating to the Frome and Stour.
	If such a scheme were to be proposed then the Environment Agency would consider all the impacts of the scheme on flooding and the environment.

Slaughter Premiums

David Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the implications for Government policy on the payment of slaughter premium of the arbitration decision in the case of Feakins v Defra.

Margaret Beckett: holding answer 7 January 2003
	There are no implications. The arbitration award included no payment of slaughter premium. The Government have made it clear that slaughter premium is not payable in respect of FMD culled cattle because the scheme criteria were not met, and that no adjustment is needed to compensation based on market value.

Statutory Instruments

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Statutory Instruments subject to negative procedure made by her Department (a) came into force and (b) were considered by a delegated legislation committee in each of the last three sessions.

Alun Michael: Defra was created in June 2001. During the 2001–02 Session, 141 Statutory Instruments subject to negative resolution procedure came into force. Of these, 12 were considered by a delegated legislation committee.

Tallow

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which companies her Department has contracts with for the incineration of tallow produced under the over-thirty-months scheme; and when those contracts were (a) agreed and (b) signed.

Alun Michael: 9 companies have been awarded contracts for the incineration of tallow arisings produced under the Over Thirty Month Scheme. The companies and dates of contracts awarded are as follows:
	
		
			 Company Date 
		
		
			 Gilberts Animal Feed (now John Pointon & Sons) 17 December 1996 
			 Prosper De Mulder 6 February 1997 
			 J. G. Pears 12 February 1997 
			 Dundas Brothers 9 May 1997 
			 Lisburn Proteins 5 July 1997 
			 Canterbury Mills 5 January 1998 
			 William Forrest & Son 5 January 1998 
			 Dundas Chemical Company 5 December 2000 
			 Ulster Farm by Products 25 November 2002

WORK AND PENSIONS

Stakeholder Pensions

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his answer of 26 November 2002, Official Report, column 212W, which companies were registered as stakeholder pension providers on 6 April 2001; and whether any of these have stopped offering stakeholder pensions direct to individuals since then.

Ian McCartney: pursuant to his answers, 7 January 2003, Official Report, c. 172–74W and 13 January 2003, Official Report, c. 366–68W
	The information available is in the table.
	
		
			 Companies registered as stakeholder pension providers on 6 April 2001(10) Address Have since 6 April 2001 notified that they have stopped offering stakeholder pensions direct to individuals(11) 
		
		
			 Abbey National Life Plc Abbey National House, 287 Vincent Street, Glasgow  
			 Allied Dunbar Assurance Plc UK Life Centre, Station Road, Swindon  
			 AXA Sun Life Plc AXA Centre, PO Box 1810, Bristol 
			 St Andrew's Life Assurance Plc PO Box 10,Walton Street, Aylesbury De-registered(12) as a stakeholder pension scheme August 2002 following parent company's (Bank of Scotland) merger with the Halifax 
			 B&CE Insurance Ltd Manor Royal, Crawley  
			 Brittanic Assurance Plc 1 Wythall Green Way, Wythall, Birmingham  
			 Canada Life Ltd Canada Life Place, Potters Bar De-registered as a stakeholder pension scheme December 2002 
			 Chamber Pensions Ltd Manning House, 22 Carlisle Place, London Stopped(13) July 2001 
			 Co-operative Insurance Society Miller Street, Manchester  
			 Clerical Medical Investment Group Narrow Plain, Bristol  
			 Deutsche Asset Management Life and Pensions Ltd One Appold Street, London  
			 Eagle Star Life Assurance Company Ltd UK Life Tower, Montpellier Drive, Cheltenham, Gloucester  
			 Friends Provident Life and Pensions Ltd(14) Pixham End, Dorking, Surrey  
			 Halifax Life Ltd Trinity Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire  
			 HSBC Life (UK) Ltd Norwich House, Nelson Gate, Commercial Road, Southampton  
			 INVESCO Pensions Ltd INVESCO Park, INVESCO Park Drive, Henley on Thames  
			 Legal and General Assurance Society Ltd Temple Court, 11 Queen Victoria Street, London  
			 Marks and Spencer Life Assurance Ltd Kings Meadow, Chester  
			 Merrill Lynch Pensions Ltd 33 King William Street, London  
			 Nationwide Unit Trust Managers Ltd Nationwide House, Pipers Way, Swindon  
			 National Westminster Life Assurance Ltd PO Box 886, Trinity Quay, Avon Street, Bristol  
			 National Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Ltd Tiddington Road, Stratford-upon-Avon  
			 CGNU Life Assurance Ltd 2 Rougier Street, York  
			 NPI Ltd Box 89, 55 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells  
			 Pearl Assurance (Unit Linked Pensions) Ltd Box 89, 55 Calverley Road, Tunbridge Wells  
			 Police Mutual Assurance Society Ltd Alexandra House, Queen Street, Lichfield  
			 The Prudential Assurance Company Ltd Abbey Gardens, 55 Kings Road, Reading  
			 Royal and Sun Alliance Life and Pensions Ltd St. Marks Court, Chart Way, Horsham  
			 Royal Liver Assurance Ltd Royal Liver Building, Pier Head, Liverpool  
			 The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Ltd Royal London House, Middleborough, Colchester  
			 Royal Scottish Assurance Plc 42 St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh  
			 Schroder Pensions Ltd 31 Gresham Street, London  
			 Scottish Amicable Life Plc PO Box 25, Craigforth, Stirling  
			 Scottish Equitable Plc Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh  
			 The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Ltd Royal London House, Middleborough, Colchester  
			 Scottish Mutual Assurance Plc Abbey National House, 301 Vincent Street, Glasgow  
			 Scottish Widows Plc 69 Morrison Street, Edinburgh  
			 FPS Stakeholder Trustee Limited Castle House, Park Road, Banstead  
			 The Standard Life Assurance Company Standard Life House, 30 Lothian Road, Edinburgh  
			 Teachers Provident Society Ltd Deansleigh Road, Bournemouth  
			 TUC Stakeholder Trustees Ltd Congress House, Great Russell Street, London  
			 Virgin Money Unit Trust Managers Ltd Discovery House, Whiting Road, Norwich  
			 Wesleyan Assurance Society Colmore Circus, Birmingham  
			 Winterthur Life UK Ltd Winterthur Way, Basingstoke  
		
	
	(10) Information from The Occupational Pensions Regulatory Authority's (Opra) register of stakeholder pension schemes.
	(11) While registered stakeholder pension providers are required to inform Opra of any restrictions they impose on membership to their scheme, they do not have to inform the Authority of any changes to their marketing or publicity strategies.
	(12) 'De-registered' effectively means leaving the stakeholder pensions market altogether.
	(13) 'Stopped' means the provider does not accept business from individuals, but does offer stakeholder pensions to group clients.
	(14) The Friends Provident Stakeholder Pensions Scheme closed to both new group and individual business in January 2002, while remaining open to accept contributions from existing members. However, Friends Provident's other stakeholder pension scheme, Friends Provident Pensions Limited Stakeholder Pension Scheme, continues to sell stakeholder pensions to both groups and individuals.
	Note
	James Hay Trustees Ltd is not included in the table above because it did not register until after 6 April 2001 (registered March 2002 and de-registered August 2002).

Child Poverty

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with other Ministers to ensure that no Government strategy impacts adversely on child poverty.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government is committed to building a fairer and more inclusive society in which everyone can contribute to, and share in, rising national prosperity. 'Opportunity for all—(the) fourth annual report' is the latest in a series that comprehensively describes the Government's strategy and progress in tackling poverty and social exclusion.
	The Government has set itself an ambitious target to eradicate child poverty within a generation.
	Ministers regularly meet with ministerial colleagues to discuss issues related to the alleviation of child poverty. They attend the Ministerial Group on Children and Young People (MISC9) and the Joint Ministerial Committee on Poverty, both of which address child poverty issues.

Child Poverty

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what differences there are in the treatment of (a) endowment mortgage savings and (b) ISA mortgage savings in assessing savings in each relevant means tested benefit, including council tax benefit with savings thresholds and disregards; and whether this issue is under review.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 9 January 2003
	Unlike an ISA mortgage savings scheme, an endowment mortgage also provides life insurance cover. It is a long-standing principle that the surrender value of any life insurance policy should be disregarded when determining entitlement to the income- related benefits, including Council Tax Benefit. This is because the intended beneficiaries of life insurance policies, are not the policy-holders themselves, but any dependants they may have at the time of their death. Because a life insurance policy is an integral part of an endowment mortgage, the overall surrender value is disregarded in the same way. However, if a life insurance policy is surrendered early or linked endowment mortgage savings are redeemed, any resulting capital is taken into account in the normal way.
	Because ISA mortgage savings schemes do not provide life insurance cover any savings held are taken into account as capital from the outset when determining entitlement to the income-related benefits, including Council Tax Benefit.
	We keep all our policies under review. However, we have no plans to change the present rules in this area.

Benefits Budget

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the benefits budget is for this financial year, broken down by English region.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 12 December 2002
	The Department does not forecast nor budget for expenditure on a regional basis. However, using the regional distribution of benefit expenditure for the previous two years, where available, an illustrative regional breakdown of benefit spending for 2002–03 is given in the table.
	
		
			  # billion 
		
		
			 Region  
			 North East 5.6 
			 North West 14.2 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 9.4 
			 East Midlands 7.3 
			 West Midlands 9.9 
			 Eastern 8.8 
			 London 13.2 
			 South East 12.5 
			 South West 8.7 
			 Total England 89.6 
		
	
	Source:
	Pre-Budget Report forecasts for 2002–03, combined with statistical and accounting data for 2000–01 and 2001–02. Figures may not sum due to rounding.
	Information is not available by Government Office Region for some benefits, the main ones being Statutory Maternity Pay, Social Fund and the Independent Living Funds. These are not included in the table. The amount of expenditure on benefits where no information is available is forecast to be #1.6 billion in 2002–03 for Great Britain as a whole (equating to 1.5 per cent. of benefit spending).

Bereavement Allowance

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the time limit is for claiming Bereavement (a) Allowance and (b) Payment; what powers exist to extend the limit in individual cases; and in what circumstances these powers are used.

Malcolm Wicks: We want bereaved people to claim and receive the help that they and their families are entitled to when they need it—immediately after the bereavement. Most people do: more than four-fifths claim within four or five weeks of their loss.
	Entitlement to Bereavement Allowance lasts for 52 weeks after the death of a spouse. If the claim for Bereavement Allowance is made within three months of the death, the benefit will be paid for the full 52 weeks. Where a claim is made more than three months after the death occurred, benefit is paid from the date of claim for the balance of the 52-week period.
	There are no powers to extend the three-month time limit for claims for the full 52 weeks benefit. However, there are special rules for cases in which a death is not confirmed until some time after it has occurred, for example, following a disappearance.
	Bereavement Payment, a one-off lump sum, must currently be claimed within three months of the death of a spouse. However, we laid amending regulations on 24 October 2002, which extend the time limit within which the lump sum Bereavement Payment may be claimed to 12 months in respect of deaths that occur on or after 1 April 2003. This aligns it with the period for which Bereavement Allowance can be paid. We believe this is a sensible alteration that will simplify the scheme for everyone, while remaining compatible with underlying benefit entitlement rules.

Child Support Agency

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects the computerisation of the Child Support Agency to be completed.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale (Mr. Duncan) on 27 November 2002, Official Report, column 317W.

Final Salary Pension Schemes

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what action he is taking to encourage companies to retain final salary pension schemes for existing employees and to make them available to new employees.

Ian McCartney: I refer my hon. Friend to my written answer of 13 January 2003, Official Report, volume 397, columns 361–62W.

Pensioners

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the role of means-testing in providing provision for pensioners.

Ian McCartney: The purpose of the minimum income guarantee is to ensure that no pensioner need live on less than #98.15 a week—#149.80 for couples (from April 2003, #102.10 a week for single pensioners and #155.80 for couples). In addition, the pension credit when it is introduced in October 2003, is intended to reward rather than penalise those people who have modest amounts of second pension or other savings.

Maxwell Communications Pension Plan

George Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Consultative Committee of the Maxwell Communications Pension Plan; and if he will make a statement on the proposed reduction in benefits payable to pensioners under the plan.

Ian McCartney: The Government is aware of the difficulties surrounding the Maxwell Communications Pension Plan and sympathises with those affected.
	We have had discussions with the Independent Trustee of the Plan, The Law Debenture Trust Corporation plc. but have received no request to meet the Consultative Committee of the Maxwell Communication Pension Plan.
	The difficulties faced by the Plan are not connected to Maxwell's original fraud but reflect the subsequent performance of the pension fund in relation to the scheme's liabilities. As we have made clear to Law Debenture, this is an issue for the trustees, not the Government.
	We have set out the facts of the case in full in our response to representations received on this matter and I have placed a copy of that response in the Library.

State Second Pension

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what is the weekly value of the state second pension in 2050 in the case illustrated in Figure 7.5 of the pensions Green Paper (Cm 5677); what it would have been under SERPS (a) as amended prior to April 2002 and (b) if the 20 best years provision had not been repealed; and what are the assumed earnings of the woman concerned.

Ian McCartney: The weekly value of the state second pension in the particular case illustrated is #67. The weekly value of SERPS as amended prior to April 2002 is #33. If the 20 best years provision had not been repealed, the weekly value of SERPS would have been #87.
	It is assumed that the woman in question earns the average female full-time weekly wage when working full time (#383) and the average female part-time weekly wage when working part time (#144). She is assumed to work for 30 years, 17 of which are full-time.
	The reason that the 20 best years provision in SERPS generates a higher pension than state second pension is that an example of someone with substantial full-time work at average earnings is used. State second pension has been designed to benefit lower earners and part-time workers who would generally receive far less from the 20 best years rule than from state second pension.

TREASURY

Small Suppliers (Video)

Andrew Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of preparation and distribution of the Office of Government Commerce's video XSmaller Supplier...Better value?" was; how many were produced in each format; and how many have been distributed.

Paul Boateng: The XSmaller Supplier ... Better Value?" video was launched in November 2002, following a commitment to the Public Accounts Committee at the Improving Public Services through e-Government hearing held on 13 May 2002. The preparation costs were shared equally between the Office of Government Commerce (OGC) and the Small Business Service (SBS).
	To reduce the postage and packaging costs this video was sent to some organisations as part of a larger mailing, sent in bulk for others to distribute using their existing networks and some were distributed at no cost. As these distribution costs are not held centrally this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Cigarettes

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2002, Official Report, columns 587–88W, on cigarettes, what method of calculation was used; and if he will place the calculations in the Library.

John Healey: The allowance made in the pre-Budget report public finance forecast is based on assumptions about changes to cross-border shopping behaviour following the October launch of the next stage of the Government's long-term strategy to tackle tobacco smuggling.
	The assumptions focus on effects that can be quantified with a degree of certainty. EU shoppers have always been allowed to bring back as much tobacco as they like, as long it is for their own use, and the revisions to the tobacco indicative levels as part of the October package do not affect that entitlement. Data from Customs and Excise's survey of cross-Channel travellers show that the majority of travellers made no purchases of cigarettes, and that, of those who did make purchases, two thirds purchased below the previous indicative level of 800 cigarettes, and that a further 15 per cent. purchased above. The recent change to the levels can be expected to have little effect on the shopping patterns of these travellers.
	The assumptions for the public finance forecasts relate to the impact on behaviour of those remaining travellers purchasing at the previous indicative levels for tobacco. Those assumptions include:
	that a small proportion of travellers may be expected to increase their purchases to the new level; and
	that the average level of other purchases would increase to 1,600 cigarettes, a three-month supply for an average smoker, taking into account the affordability and profitability of trips.

Devolved Administration Finance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funds will be transferred from the Treasury to the (a) Scottish Parliament, (b) Welsh Assembly and (c) Greater London Assembly in the next financial year.

Paul Boateng: Figures for the grants paid to the Scottish consolidated fund and the NAW in 2003–04 will be published in the 2003–04 main supply estimates for the Scotland Office and the Wales Office in due course.
	The 2003–04 figure for GLA funding is not yet available. GLA funding comes from a range of sources and is not a single grant as in the case of Scotland and Wales. A large percentage of GLA funding comes from the local government revenue support grant, and the police grant. The Home Secretary and the Minister for Local Government announced a consultation on proposals for these amounts to the House on the 5 December. Further funding to the GLA comes through the GLA transport grant.

Drugs

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many drugs seizures, broken down by type of drug, have HM Customs in Scotland made by (a) financial value and (b) weight in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Details of Customs' drug seizures are published in their annual reports, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. Drugs seized by Customs are destined for all parts of the UK, and there is little direct importation of class A drugs into Scotland. For this reason it is not policy to break down seizure information to the constituent parts of the UK.

Employment Costs

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the employment costs are, including benefits, of (a) Ministers representing the Office of Government Commerce and (b) special advisers and their supporting staff retained by the Office of Government Commerce.

Paul Boateng: Treasury Ministers and special advisers spend a proportion of their time on OGC business. Their employment costs are borne by the Treasury.

Energy Efficiency

Jonathan Sayeed: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts were claimed by companies under the Enhanced Capital Allowances scheme for each qualifying energy efficiency technology and product type in the last year for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not yet available.

Government Contracts

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list government contracts, including those with SMEs, and PFI and PPP contracts, where there has been an identified cost saving greater than 5 per cent. as a result of the services provided by the Office of Government Commerce.

Paul Boateng: Information on cost savings in individual Departmental contracts is not held centrally. The total value for money gains in Government procurement reported by central civil government bodies for the years 2000–01 and 2001–02 is #815 million.

Greater London Authority

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on the GLA proposed budget for 2003–04.

Paul Boateng: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Chancellor on 11 February 2002, Official Report, columns 114–15W.

Hypothecation

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the use of hypothecation to improve environmental performance.

John Healey: The Government considers on a case by case basis whether the revenues from individual environmental taxes should be targeted at complementary spending measures.
	The Government published alongside the recent pre-Budget report its paper XTax and the Environment—using economic instruments", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. This provides further guidance on how the Government considers the case for revenue recycling of environmental taxes

North Sea Oil

Norman Baker: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been received in oil revenues from extraction of oil from the UK section of the North Sea in each year from 1974 in (a) gross and (b) net terms, allowing for grants and other payments to the oil industry.

Dawn Primarolo: Government revenues from UK oil and gas production are given in the table. Separate figures for just oil are not available.
	
		# million 
		
			  Corporation tax (CT)  
			  Of which:  
			 Financial year Licence fees(15) Royalty SPD(16) PRT(17) Total before ACT set-off(18) ACT set-off(19) Mainstream CT(20) Total revenues 
		
		
			 1974–75 4 15 — — 5 — 5 24 
			 1975–76 2 20 — — 5 — 5 27 
			 1976–77 5 71 — — 10 — 10 86 
			 1977–78 7 228 — — 10 — 10 245 
			 1978–79 9 289 — 183 93 40 53 574 
			 1979–80 10 628 — 1,435 250 78 172 2,323 
			 1980–81 220 992 — 2,410 341 97 244 3,963 
			 1981–82 14 1,396 2,025 2,390 681 270 411 6,506 
			 1982–83 46 1,632 2,395 3,274 521 202 319 7,868 
			 1983–84 19 1,904 — 6,017 877 430 447 8,817 
			 1984–85 136 2,426 — 7,177 2,432 1,244 1,188 12,171 
			 1985–86 23 2,057 — 6,375 2,916 1,085 1,831 11,371 
			 1986–87 21 919 — 1,188 2,676 1,130 1,546 4,804 
			 1987–88 27 1,024 — 2,296 1,298 681 617 4,645 
			 1988–89 25 602 — 1,371 1,195 685 510 3,193 
			 1989–90 33 575 — 1,050 743 495 248 2,401 
			 1990–91 31 605 — 860 847 363 484 2,343 
			 1991–92 37 557 — -216 638 370 268 1,016 
			 1992–93 34 554 — 69 682 480 202 1,339 
			 1993–94 43 606 — 359 258 219 39 1,266 
			 1994–95 41 550 — 712 380 299 81 1,683 
			 1995–96 49 555 — 968 766 674 92 2,338 
			 1996–97 48 684 — 1,729 890 460 430 3,351 
			 1997–98 54 535 — 963 1,779 821 958 3,331 
			 1998–99 62 343 — 504 1,605 656 949 2,514 
			 1999–2000 53 389 — 853 1,268 120 1,148 2,563 
			 2000–01 55 552 — 1,517 2,256 — 2,256 4,380 
			 2001–02 59 558 — 1,307 3,347 — 3,347 5,271 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Licence fees include receipts from fees for onshore and offshore petroleum exploration and production licenses, including initial and periodic payments and tender receipts from offshore licensing of #37 million from the 4th round in 1971–72, #33 million the 8th round in 1982–83 and #121 million from the 9th round in 1984–85.
	2. Supplementary Petroleum Duty (SPD) was introduced with effect from 1 January 1981 by the 1981 Finance Act and lapsed after 31 December 1982; it was payable at the rate of 20 per cent. on the gross value of oil and gas produced under UK licences less an allowance per field of one million tonnes per year; it did not apply to PRT-exempt sales of gas to the British Gas Corporation.
	3. Advance Petroleum Tax (APRT) is included with PRT. The net PRT repayment in 1991–92 and low net receipts in 1992–93 resulted from high tax-relievable expenditure claimed on some fields.
	4. The level of Corporation Tax receipts in 1993–94 reflected low liabilities in 1992 (paid in the following financial year) and repayment resulting from lower settlements for earlier years.
	5. The ACT (Advance Corporation Tax) Set-off is estimated because the dividends attributable to UK oil and gas cannot be separately identified from other dividends.
	6. Mainstream Corporation Tax (CT) equals CT before the ACT Set-off less the estimated ACT Set-of.
	There have been no significant grants or other payments to the oil industry and hence the net revenues are the same as the gross revenues.

Office of Government Commerce

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees work in the Office of Government Commerce, and what the cost is of their employment, including national insurance.

Paul Boateng: At 31 December 2002 OGC had 672 employees, of which 243 were in the OGC trading fund, OGCbuying.solutions. The forecast annual OGC payroll cost for 2002–03, including employers national insurance and pension contributions, is #22.5 million, of which #6.4million is for OGCbuying.solutions.

Office of Government Commerce

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the administrative estimate for the Office of Government Commerce was in the year ending (a) April 2001, (b) April 2002 and (c) April 2003.

Paul Boateng: Net voted administrative costs are as follows:
	
		
			 Year # million 
		
		
			 2000–01 actual outturn 16.8 
			 2001–02 actual outturn 31.3 
			 2002–03 estimate provision 25.3 
		
	
	The 2002–03 provision does not include any proposed spring Supplementary Estimate changes.

Office of Government Commerce

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the Chief Executive Advisory Group of the Office of Government Commerce has met in the last year; what allowances from public funds are made to members of the group; and what the cost was in each year since 2000.

Paul Boateng: The Chief Executive Advisory Group to the Office of Government Commerce met four times in 2002. No allowances from public funds are made through OGC to members of the group but some members may claim travel expenses from their own departments. Administrative support is provided by OGC staff.

Office of Government Commerce

Mark Prisk: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many times the Supervisory Board to the Chief Executive of the Office of Government Commerce has met in the last year; what allowances from public funds are made to members of the group; and what the cost was in each year since 2000.

Paul Boateng: The OGC Supervisory Board has met three times in the calendar year ending December 2002. No allowances are paid to Members but one external Member, who provides invaluable US public sector procurement experience, is reimbursed travel costs through OGC. The cost each year since 2000 is:
	
		
			 Year # 
		
		
			 2000–01 12,700 
			 2001–02 16,700 
		
	
	In addition some Members may claim travel costs through their own Departments.

Rebated Gas Oil

John Barrett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the use of rebated gas oil.

John Healey: Rebated gas oil, also known as red diesel, is liable for duty at the rate of 3.13 pence per litre and is used in excepted vehicles and as a heating and industrial fuel.

Same-sex Couples

Evan Harris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what taxation benefits would be available to same-sex couples living together as a couple, and what would the cost of those changes be, if such same-sex couples were treated in the same way as normal couples.

Dawn Primarolo: There are no specific taxation benefits available for couples as such, although some tax allowances and reliefs are available to married couples. The Government intend to consult in the summer about the details of a civil partnership registration scheme for same-sex couples, including the implications of such a scheme for tax.

Sickness Absence

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many days were lost due to sickness absence in the Department in 2002.

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many working days were lost due to illness in his Department in (a) 2002 and (b) each of the preceding five years.

Ruth Kelly: Figures published by the Cabinet Office on sickness absence are available since 1994. The latest publication is XAnalysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service 2001" published in December 2002. For the Treasury, the figures for working days absence per staff year were:
	
		
			 Year Working days per staff year 
		
		
			 1997 4.9 
			 1998 5.3 
			 1999 5.5 
			 2000 3.9 
			 2001 4.7 
		
	
	Figures for 2002 will be announced in due course.

Spend to Save Initiative

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 25 November 2002, Official Report, column 62W, on the spend to save initiative, if he will place the evaluation in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The results of the initiative were summarised and published in the Board of Inland Revenue's annual reports. They are set out in the reports for the years ending 31 March 1998 (page 21), 31 March 1999 (page 17) and 31 March 2000 (pages 15 and 16). These reports are available in the Library. They show that the initiative was a success, producing more than #1.8 billion in additional revenue, which was more than forecast, and a yield to cost ratio of 10 to 1. The Comptroller and Auditor General in his Audit of Assumptions for the pre-Budget 2000 report concluded that the monitoring and control systems were sound, and that the savings estimate was reported on a prudent basis.

Tax Administration (Internet)

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of (a) tax returns filed and (b) vehicle excise duty licences applied for via the internet since these services were first made available.

Dawn Primarolo: As at 14 January 2003, 342,472 tax returns have been received over the internet since the service was first made available.
	The DVLA does not, at present, provide an internet service for vehicle excise duty licensing.

Tax Administration (Internet)

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of setting up and administering the provision of (a) tax return filing and (b) vehicle excise duty licence application via the internet.

Dawn Primarolo: The cost of providing self-assessment tax returns on the internet is:
	Fixed Cost The estimated cost of implementing the internet service for self-assessment for years one to three is about #17 million.
	Marginal Cost
	The on-going support costs, including maintenance, help desk support and on-going improvements to the system is between #3 to #4 million per annum.
	Future costings for VED licensing via the internet are not currently available.

Taxation

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the income tax receipts foregone, since 1999, as a result of the Government's policy of offering a tax relief on employee-loaned computers.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available.

Taxation

Howard Flight: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the income tax receipts foregone, since 1 April 2000, as a result of the tax credits introduced by Her Majesty's Government to encourage corporate venturing in the Budget of that year.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government introduced the corporate venturing scheme (CVS) in Finance Act 2000, but this is neither a tax credit nor does it give any relief against income tax. The CVS gives relief against corporation tax and the latest estimates are that the scheme has reduced corporation tax liabilities by #5 million for both 2001–02 and 2002–03.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many anti-social behaviour orders have been issued for crimes against retailers since their introduction.

John Denham: Anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) are community-based civil orders which can be applied for by the police, British Transport police, registered social landlords or local authorities against an individual or several individuals whose behaviour is anti-social.
	Details on the offending types of behaviour initiating application for an ASBO are not collected centrally, although we are aware of areas where ASBOs have been used against shoplifters.
	Further information on the use of ASBOs can be found in Home Office Research Study 236, 'A review of anti-social behaviour orders', published 2002.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been taken out in England in each year since their introduction, by local authority area.

John Denham: Since their introduction, 1 April 1999, up to 31 May 2000 data on the number of Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) issued was collected by police force area only. From 1 June 2000 official statistics on the number of ASBOs issued are based on quarterly returns from Magistrates Courts Committees (MCCs) and from copies of the orders received since this date, we are able to identify the local authorities.
	I have placed a table showing the number of ASBOs issued within England, as notified to the Home Office, from 1 April 1999 to 30 June 2002 (latest available) in the Library.
	We are aware that the numbers of ASBOs made nationally have been consistently under reported in returns made by magistrates courts and are considering how reporting can be improved.

Asylum Seekers

David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the local authorities in Scotland with whom NASS has a contract for accommodation to be provided for asylum seekers; and how many places there are in each such contract.

Beverley Hughes: The National Asylum Support Service (NASS) has one contract with Glasgow City Council. Under the terms of the contract the Council is contracted to provide up to 2,500 properties.

Asylum Seekers

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children seeking asylum are in detention.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the age of individual detainees is not available except by examination of individual casefiles at disproportionate cost.
	Children are detained in two limited circumstances: either as part of a family group whose detention is considered appropriate; or, exceptionally, as unaccompanied minors while alternative arrangements are made for their care and normally just overnight.

Child Curfew Orders

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child curfew orders have been issued in England and Wales, broken down by local authority area.

John Denham: No applications have yet been received to establish a local child curfew scheme under section 14 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. Some local authorities and police forces have considered the possibility, but concluded that other measures should be taken to tackle specific local problems.

Correspondence

David Winnick: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 27 November 2002, regarding a constituent, ref 24789/2.

John Denham: holding answer 13 January2003
	I replied to my hon. Friend on 10 January 2003.

Deportation

Jonathan R Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 7 January 2003, Official Report, ref 88368, what criteria his Department uses to assess whether it is satisfied that suitable arrangements are in place for reception and care when removing unaccompanied minors to their country of origin.

Beverley Hughes: Prior to return reception arrangements are considered on a case-by-case basis and possible arrangements are investigated before return is made. The most suitable arrangements are for the unaccompanied minor to be returned to his/her parents or other immediate family members willing to take responsibility for the child.

Door Security Personnel

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures have been put in place to ensure high standards among door security personnel working for nightclubs and other entertainment venues.

John Denham: The Private Security Industry Act 2001 provides for the establishment of a Security Industry Authority (SIA), which will have responsibility for licensing individuals, employed in designated sectors of the private security industry, including door supervisors. There will be two checks on people applying for licences—the first will be a criminal record check, the second will be a check on professional competencies. It is expected that the licensing of door supervisors will begin at the end of 2003 or early 2004.
	The Act also contains provision for the SIA to approve contractors in the industry.
	I am confident that the introduction of the SIA will, over time, contribute to the reduction of criminality in the private security industry, and help to raise standards of skills, training and supervision within the industry.

Drug Users Treatment

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the expansion of services to refer drug users to treatment via the criminal justice system will start.

Bob Ainsworth: The Government's Updated Drug Strategy, launched on 3 December 2002, described the introduction, from 2003–04, of a comprehensive new programme of criminal justice interventions aimed at getting drug misusers out of crime into effective treatment. This programme includes, amongst other initiatives, the enhancement of existing arrest referral schemes, doubling the availability of Drug Treatment and Testing Orders, building on the current Drug Testing projects and extending the approach more widely and piloting a presumption against bail for those who refuse to access treatment. The programme will be backed up by improvements in treatment capacity and local delivery.
	Some elements of the new programme, such as enhanced arrest referral, will apply across England and Wales from year one; others will be introduced on a phased basis, with the initial focus on those areas with the highest levels of acquisitive crime.

Drugs Crime

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many teenagers he estimates have tried class A drugs in the (a) Twickenham constituency, (b) London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and (c) London; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 13 January 2003
	The 2001/02 British Crime Survey estimates that 9 per cent. of 16 to 19 year-olds in London have at some time tried a class A drug. The equivalent estimate for the whole of England and Wales is 11 per cent. The difference between the England and Wales estimate and the London estimate is not statistically significant. These data are not available at constituency or borough level.
	The XDrug use, smoking and drinking among young people in England in 2001" survey estimates that 6 per cent. of school children aged between 11 and 15 years old have tried a class A drug. No geographical breakdown is available for this age group.

Drugs Education Campaign

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the new education campaign on the risks of drug misuse will start; and whether it will be standardised throughout the United Kingdom.

Bob Ainsworth: Due to launch spring 2003, the campaign is jointly funded by the Home Office and the Department of Health, working closely with the Department for Education and Skills. The campaign will run in England and it will build on previous awareness raising campaigns. The campaign will comprise a national framework which will be sufficiently flexible to enable it to be supported at a community level in order to respond to local priorities and needs.

European Reception Policies

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the research on the reception policies of Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany has been published; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The research on the reception policies and practice of Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany has not yet been published. Publication was provisionally scheduled for end 2002. The Home Office now anticipates publishing the results of the above research in spring 2003, subject to the usual Research Development and Statistics (RDS) publication procedures, including peer review.

Fireworks

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make the use of fireworks at certain times of the night a criminal offence.

John Denham: We are aware of the noise and nuisance caused by fireworks. There is already legislative provision through the Noise Act 1996 to deal with noise nuisance, including fireworks, between 11 pm and 7 am. This legislation is adoptive. We are considering how best to encourage local authorities to make greater use of it.
	We are also considering as part of the development of the Anti-Social Behaviour White Paper what more needs to be done to tackle this nuisance which is blighting so many neighbourhoods.

Gun Crime

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) arrests and (b) cautions for gun possession were recorded in (i) 2002 and (ii) each of the previous five years in (A) Lancashire, (B) the North West of England and (C) Wales.

Bob Ainsworth: The information contained in the table, which has been placed in the Library, gives the number of defendants proceeded against and cautioned for various offences of possession of firearms, 1997 to 2001.
	Arrest data are not collect centrally at the level of detail requested.
	Statistics for 2002 will be published in the autumn.

Illegal Immigration

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his policy is in relation to the return of penalties paid by road hauliers for carrying illegal immigrants; what his policy is concerning unpaid penalties; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Government's position on the reimbursement of penalties paid under the previous civil penalty regime is clear. We are under no obligation to return any of the money paid against penalties imposed in cases which were not party to the Roth litigation. The previous legislation was not found to be unlawful. Theoretically, unpaid penalties could have been enforced but, in the light of the Court of Appeal's findings in Roth, we considered it appropriate not to take enforcement action in respect of outstanding penalties.

Integrated Casework Directorate

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the visa application of Mrs. Gale of Ringwood of 21 October 2002, acknowledged on 14 November by the Integrated Casework Directorate, will be decided and the original documents returned.

Beverley Hughes: Mrs. Gale's application was decided on 10 January 2003. The decision and all supporting documents were returned the same day.

Jamaican Visitors

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of visitors from Jamaica who have overstayed in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the number of persons who have overstayed their conditions of entry to the United Kingdom is not available and no estimate of this number has been made. However, we are aware that large numbers of Jamaican nationals who have been granted temporary admission subsequently abscond.
	More than 1,000 did so in the first six months of 2002.

Metropolitan Police

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under which Common law power the Metropolitan Police have closed Blackburne Mews, London W1; and how many times in the last 12 months Blackburne Mews, London W1 has been closed in accordance with (a) section 67 of the Road Traffic Act 1984 and (b) section 116 of the Highways Act 1980.

John Spellar: I have been asked to reply.
	The temporary road closure has been authorised by Westminster City Council following an application by the Metropolitan Police for an order under section 14 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended by the Road Traffic (Temporary Restrictions) Act 1991). The order was put in place on 24 November 2001 and expires on 12 April 2003. Westminster City Council may ask the Secretary of State to extend the duration of the order for a further period of up to six months.

Ministerial Meetings

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates Ministers in his Department have held meetings with members and officials of the United States Administration since 8 June 2001; where each meeting took place; which Ministers were involved in each meeting; which United States Administration Departments attended each meeting; and which members and officials from the United States Administration attended each of these meetings.

David Blunkett: Ministers have held meetings with representatives of the United States Administration on a variety of issues since June 2001. In particular:
	The Home Secretary met John Ashcroft (US Attorney General) on 12 December 2001 at the Home Office. William Parish (US Ambassador), Michael Chertoff (Assistant Attorney General), Bruce Swartz (Deputy Assistant Attorney General), David Israelite (Deputy Chief of Staff) and a number of other key members and officials were also in attendance.
	The Home Secretary met Tom Ridge (Director of Homeland Security in the US) on 7 November 2002 at 1 Carlton Gardens. A number of other members and officials were in attendance including Minister Glyn Davies and Ambassador McNamara. An evening dinner was held at which my right hon. Friend (John Denham) was also in attendance; and
	John Denham met Tommy Thompson, Minister for Health and Human Services, on 8 May 2002 at the UN Secretariat in New York. Mr. Thompson was accompanied by an official who was an expert on children's services.

Notifiable Offences (Bromley)

John Horam: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many notifiable offences there were in the London borough of Bromley in each year since 1973.

John Denham: holding answer 14 January 2003
	Recorded crime figures ('notifiable offences') at Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP) level have been collected centrally on a financial year basis for six key offences since April 1999. These statistics are published in Home Office Bulletins Issue 12/01 XRecorded Crime England and Wales, 12 months to March 2001", and Issue 7/02 XCrime in England and Wales 2001–02", which are available in the Library. The figures for Bromley are given in the table. Figures before this date were not collected centrally.
	
		Bromley Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership
		
			 Offence April 1999 to March 2000 April 2000 to March 2001 April 2001 to March 2002 
		
		
			 Violence against the person 3,224 3,800 3,843 
			 Sexual offences 166 186 232 
			 Robbery 518 685 917 
			 Burglary in a dwelling 1,989 1,821 1,836 
			 Theft of a motor vehicle 1,895 2,046 2,173 
			 Theft from a vehicle 3,479 2,958 3,552

Parole

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which body is responsible for updating the police national computer when an offender is arrested as a result of an order of recall due to breach of parole.

Hilary Benn: Responsibility for this would normally rest with the arresting force.

People Smuggling

Jimmy Wray: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide protection for vehicles against illegal immigrants at seaports; and whether civil penalties for unknowingly carrying illegal immigrants will be withdrawn.

Beverley Hughes: The Immigration Service uses a wide range of technology to detect clandestine entrants, including heartbeat detectors, passive millimetric wave imagers and CO2 detectors. However, responsibility for protecting vehicles in order to prevent the carriage of unauthorised people properly lies with the vehicle operator and not with the Immigration Service. Carriers who comply fully with the Code of Practice for the prevention of clandestine entry, and who have no knowledge or suspicion of the presence of unauthorised people, will not be liable to a penalty. If liability is incurred, the level of penalty set will take into account mitigating factors which will include the extent of any checks, including those using CO2 or other detection equipment, carried out by third parties immediately prior to embarkation for the UK.

Police Authority Funding

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Government's recommended projection is for the precept for each police authority in 2003–04.

John Denham: We have not made any recommendations about precept levels for police authorities in 2003–04. These are local decisions for individual police authorities to determine.

Police Authority Funding

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the Police Authority precept was for each authority in England and Wales in each financial year since 1996–97.

John Denham: The information is set out in the table.
	
		Council tax—police element (band D) -- #
		
			 Police authority 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 
		
		
			 Avon and Somerset 45.73 52.04 55.09 60.62 67.59 72.66 83.4 
			 Bedfordshire 46.46 52.51 55.84 61.36 66.98 70.26 78.69 
			 Cambridgeshire 45.00 51.03 48.24 52.11 62.46 68.04 94.59 
			 Cheshire 45.10 51.16 53.86 56.28 61.06 64.66 73.54 
			 Cleveland 46.02 54.87 48.43 62.55 65.58 69.51 96.13 
			 Cumbria 51.14 58.20 72.35 78.27 84.23 90.60 100.48 
			 Derbyshire 45.18 51.31 57.30 65.85 71.12 75.38 91.96 
			 Devon and Cornwall 45.66 49.79 48.30 53.52 58.87 61.81 73.8 
			 Dorset 57.49 63.59 70.60 77.12 84.42 92.25 103.5 
			 Durham 45.45 52.20 48.60 50.40 52.65 56.43 64.44 
			 Dyfed Powys 46.57 48.42 59.58 72.99 85.41 90.90 98.10 
			 Essex 48.42 54.09 62.28 65.07 67.95 71.01 77.67 
			 Gloucestershire 44.96 51.17 57.74 68.90 77.98 82.05 94.01 
			 Greater Manchester 45.86 54.10 56.28 60.22 62.72 64.66 68.86 
			 Gwent 46.78 49.10 54.36 59.74 74.97 84.03 95.17 
			 Hampshire 45.81 51.75 50.13 53.91 55.08 59.04 75.15 
			 Hertfordshire 46.02 51.51 58.83 63.54 67.99 72.39 81.01 
			 Humberside 45.78 52.47 52.47 54.81 60.30 85.77 95.4 
			 Kent 45.81 51.57 48.45 52.48 55.73 60.26 73.64 
			 Lancashire 45.71 53.25 53.48 57.69 62.60 67.89 73.86 
			 Leicestershire 45.32 52.26 61.21 63.79 67.80 75.52 95.21 
			 Lincolnshire 66.96 69.03 78.93 81.99 86.49 90.36 94.86 
			 Merseyside 57.87 66.87 71.78 77.44 81.31 85.37 94.76 
			 Metropolitan police 49.84 57.00 70.73 77.44 90.95 118.85 130.59 
			 Norfolk 45.18 50.58 53.64 64.35 72.09 83.61 100.35 
			 Northamptonshire 64.26 70.56 69.29 76.08 79.65 83.00 105.25 
			 Northumbria 45.95 52.73 47.67 49.82 52.06 55.65 58.15 
			 North Wales 46.21 48.52 58.54 66.33 78.49 82.72 96.53 
			 North Yorkshire 45.40 49.72 48.46 52.20 57.04 62.59 88.59 
			 Nottinghamshire 45.94 49.78 54.32 61.55 65.17 70.17 85.17 
			 South Wales 46.36 49.22 56.25 65.36 80.42 85.57 89.85 
			 South Yorkshire 45.80 53.29 54.28 56.72 59.26 62.79 74.09 
			 Staffordshire 48.15 54.74 72.42 78.86 83.43 94.37 100.93 
			 Suffolk 45.09 51.39 52.38 56.16 61.11 67.14 82.08 
			 Surrey 42.93 44.64 66.06 75.24 79.41 83.08 96.44 
			 Sussex 45.99 51.66 50.94 53.19 55.53 59.13 69.84 
			 Thames Valley 46.96 52.79 50.76 56.53 60.34 64.49 73.49 
			 Warwickshire 46.70 52.24 62.09 71.18 77.57 85.17 101.78 
			 West Mercia 45.34 50.87 53.64 59.00 74.06 78.50 104.5 
			 West Midlands 45.65 53.20 48.99 51.19 54.77 57.21 61.88 
			 West Yorkshire 45.28 53.17 52.41 54.76 58.73 60.82 75.92 
			 Wiltshire 49.44 55.48 62.77 68.98 75.84 83.26 91.54

Police Communication Systems

Peter Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what health study his Department proposes to undertake into the Airwave Police Communication System; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many police forces use the Airwave Communication System; what representations he has received about the system; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: We have taken advice from experts and consider that Airwave is safe. The Stewart report recommended that a precautionary approach should be taken on mobile phones and health. The Home Office is, therefore, setting up a health-monitoring programme for Airwave users in the police service, inconsultation with police organisations, epidemiologists and occupational health experts. Tenders are currently under consideration.
	When a force moves to Airwave, the roll out is phased, starting from the point at which forces achieve a ready for service (RFS) date. Once that date has been achieved, the move from the existing system to Airwave begins within the force. Generally, that move takes place over a period of time with the forces migrating, typically, one division at a time.
	Currently, there are seven forces in various stages of migration to Airwave: Lancashire, Greater Manchester Police, West Mercia, Suffolk, Leicestershire, North Yorkshire and Northumbria. West Mercia has just become the first force to become fully live with Airwave.
	Representations have been received from a range of groups, including the Police Federation, Mast Sanity, Association of National Park Authorities, residents associations and individuals. Topics have included health and safety, mast placement and potential interference with other equipment.

Police Funding (Dorset)

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will meet representatives of the Dorset Police Authority and hon. Members representing Dorset to discuss the provisional funding settlement in Dorset police in 2003–04.

John Denham: holding answer 14 January 2003
	We announced the provisional police funding settlement on 5 December. The consultation period for representations ended on 14 January. All representations received by then will be taken into account before the announcement of the final funding settlement on 5 February. I would be very happy to meet members of the Authority and hon. Members, as I have other hon. Members from other areas, but I must respect the closing date for representations on the allocation for next year.

Police Response Times

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his most recent estimate is of the average response time to grade 1 incidents by the Avon and Somerset Constabulary in (a) rural areas and (b) urban areas; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: holding answer 14 January 2003
	The most recent figures available are those given in Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) annual report, published on 9 December 2002. These show that the response times for attending incidents in (a) rural areas were 85.3 per cent. within 20 minutes and (b) in urban areas 83.9 per cent. within 1 5 minutes.

Prisoners (Dependent Children)

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) female and (b) male prisoners were parents of dependent children in each of the last four years.

Hilary Benn: There is no routinely collected data on the number of prisoners who have dependent children. However, a Home Office study of a large sample of imprisoned mothers and children, published in 1997, found that 60 per cent. of female prisoners had dependent children under the age of 18. Another smaller, but more recent, study of women prisoners and their work in custody, published in 2000, found broadly similar results (out of a sample of 567 sentenced women, 66 per cent. had dependent children under the age of 18).
	Directly equivalent information for male prisoners is not available. However, the 1991 England and Wales prison survey showed that 32 per cent. of male prisoners had dependent children who had been living with them just before they were imprisoned; the corresponding figure for female prisoners was 47 per cent.

Road Accidents

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many road traffic accidents there were in (a) the latest available year and (b) each of the preceding five years, broken down by police force area.

David Jamieson: The following table shows the number of road traffic accidents involving personal injury for the latest year and each of the preceding five years, by police force area:
	
		Injury accidents by police force area: GB 1996–2001 -- Accidents
		
			 Police force area 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 
		
		
			 Metropolitan Police 40,405 40,715 40,010 40,007 37,708 36,328 
			 Cumbria 1,911 2,090 2,010 2,049 1,901 1,823 
			 Lancashire 6,301 6,407 6,148 5,719 5,501 5,920 
			 Merseyside 6,593 6,658 6,767 6,829 6,835 5,783 
			 Greater Manchester 11,932 12,026 12,093 11,683 12,011 11,249 
			 Cheshire 4,644 4,786 4,919 4,713 4,669 4,523 
			 Northumbria 4,751 4,980 4,858 4,739 4,862 4,746 
			 Durham 2,020 2,055 2,052 1,837 1,934 1,862 
			 North Yorkshire 3,274 3,315 3,278 3,325 3,141 3,142 
			 West Yorkshire 9,090 9,501 9,870 9,526 9,200 8,740 
			 South Yorkshire 4,737 4,689 4,831 4,934 4,877 5,038 
			 Humberside 3,742 3,659 3,612 3,367 3,456 3,408 
			 Cleveland 1,919 1,880 1,790 1,647 1,571 1,532 
			 West Midlands 9,203 9,787 9,766 9,978 10,640 10,462 
			 Staffordshire 4,941 4,915 4,537 4,587 4,688 4,563 
			 West Mercia 4,257 4,391 4,269 4,256 3,789 3,846 
			 Warwickshire 2,395 2,477 2,307 2,278 2,274 2,244 
			 Derbyshire 3,569 3,824 3,831 3,860 3,733 3,681 
			 Nottinghamshire 4,288 4,262 4,348 4,044 4,288 4,103 
			 Lincolnshire 2,548 2,683 2,733 2,626 2,565 2,612 
			 Leicestershire 3,632 3,686 3,854 3,723 3,821 3,764 
			 Northamptonshire 2,086 2,210 2,221 2,299 2,156 1,945 
			 Cambridgeshire 3,426 3,492 3,411 3,161 3,486 3,503 
			 Norfolk 2,644 2,703 2,778 2,769 2,645 2,789 
			 Suffolk 2,141 2,224 2,251 2,298 2,312 2,356 
			 Bedfordshire 2,225 2,198 2,168 2,000 2,035 1,983 
			 Hertfordshire 3,977 4,097 4,132 3,995 4,704 4,518 
			 Essex 6,228 6,439 6,435 6,455 6,985 6,773 
			 Thames Valley 8,234 8,797 8,553 8,622 8,659 8,356 
			 Hampshire 7,752 7,656 7,333 7,187 7,323 6,934 
			 Surrey 4,464 4,338 4,323 4,284 4,647 5,153 
			 Kent 6,263 5,881 5,855 5,780 6,086 6,297 
			 Sussex 6,284 6,034 6,199 6,175 5,974 5,674 
			 City of London 476 461 448 470 417 423 
			 Devon and Cornwall 6,031 6,025 5,830 5,785 5,673 5,976 
			 Avon and Somerset 4,557 4,833 5,393 5,607 5,280 5,286 
			 Gloucestershire 1,876 1,858 1,937 2,078 1,945 2,074 
			 Wiltshire 2,323 2,490 2,392 2,359 2, 393 2,480 
			 Dorset 2,710 2,887 2,843 2,800 2,897 2,950 
			 North Wales 2,621 2,802 2,781 2,766 2,656 2,501 
			 Gwent 1,658 1,662 1,722 1,749 1,626 1,464 
			 South Wales 4,347 4,098 3,840 3,698 3,598 3,799 
			 Dyfed-Powys 1,662 1,688 1,683 1,680 1,669 1,735 
			 Northern 884 891 948 909 802 814 
			 Grampian 1,448 1,521 1,408 1,234 1,219 1,129 
			 Tayside — 1,282 1,258 1,248 1,175 1,207 
			 Fife 744 806 731 710 784 734 
			 Lothian and Borders 3,487 3,456 3,549 3,188 3,293 3,200 
			 Central 749 870 800 735 672 636 
			 Strathclyde 7,042 7,381 7,362 6,905 6,731 6,521 
			 Dumfries and Galloway 392 421 456 375 423 435 
			 Great Britain 236,193 240,287 238,923 235,048 233,729 229,014

Sangatte

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his negotiations with the French Government to close the Sangatte camp.

Beverley Hughes: Following my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's statement on 2 December 2002, Official Report, column 611W, I can add that the Red Cross centre at Sangatte was emptied by 14 December 2002 and is now being dismantled by its owners, Eurotunnel.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

Hilary Benn: Details of the statutory instruments (SIs) made by Home Office Ministers each calendar year since 1979 are as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number of SIs made Year Number of SIs made 
		
		
			 1979 143 1991 155 
			 1980 150 1992 118 
			 1981 119 1993 99 
			 1982 104 1994 92 
			 1983 112 1995 106 
			 1984 84 1996 110 
			 1985 138 1997 172 
			 1986 134 1998 133 
			 1987 134 1999 108 
			 1988 116 2000 146 
			 1989 114 2001 133 
			 1990 130 2002 129

Theft/Fraud

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what his estimate is of the cost of theft and fraud to (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies in 2002.

David Blunkett: The Home Office has an Anti Fraud and Corruption Strategy that is based upon increasing the awareness of staff, use of cost effective methods to inhibit fraud and corruption and establishing procedures to respond effectively to incidents of alleged fraud including the provision of confidential 'hot lines'. The department's overall security arrangements provide the basis for combating theft, supported by reminders to staff about preventative measures available to them. Individual line managers are responsible for combating fraud and corruption in their own areas.
	In the 2001–02 annual return, the known cost to the Department of fraud involving employees and contractors was #142,485, of which #121,310 related to the Department's agencies.

Truancy

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent study he has made into the link between truancy and street crime.

John Denham: The study 'Young People and Street Crime' published by the Youth Justice Board on 9 January shows clearly that young people involved in street crime offences are more likely to have been disruptive in school and to have had a high level of absence through truancy or exclusion. This adds to the existing evidence to show that truancy and exclusion can increase the risk of offending. The 2002 Youth Justice Board Youth Survey showed that 44 per cent. of young people who admitted to offending in the last year had also played truant.
	The Government are taking action to reduce levels of truancy. Specific measures include the Behaviour Improvement Programme, covering over 700 schools, to improve pupil behaviour and reduce truancy and exclusions; the police and schools working together to conduct truancy sweeps; the deployment of an additional 100 police officers to work in schools; and increased powers to deal with the parents of persistent truants, including the piloting of new fast-track prosecution procedures.

Visitor Counting

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what latest estimate he has made of the cost of introducing and maintaining a system of counting visitors in and out of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: A precise figure is not available, but the cost of recording electronically the admissions and departures of all non-EEA nationals is provisionally estimated to be around #20 million a year. This estimate includes the costs of reintroducing fully staffed embarkation controls, which were withdrawn for passengers travelling to European Union destinations from ferry ports and small airports in 1994 and reconfigured at major airports in 1998.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan (Heroin)

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his assessment is of the effect of the war in Afghanistan on the supply of heroin to the United Kingdom.

Mike O'Brien: The disruption of drug production in Afghanistan was not among the aims of the military campaign. However, the fall of the Taliban and consequent appointment of the Afghan Transitional Authority through a Loya Jirga meeting (Grand Council) has created a new opportunity to end Afghan opium production. The UK is co-ordinating international support for Afghanistan's drug control efforts and has produced, in consultation with the Afghan Government, other donors and international agencies, a long-term strategy for building up Afghan drug law enforcement capacity and providing alternative livelihoods to opium poppy farmers. The brutality of the Taliban regime had helped to restrict production of poppies in the final year of their rule. Their replacement by a Government committed to international human rights norms will inevitably see some increase in production. But alternative livelihoods could encourage growers to cease cultivation particularly if the Afghan Government undertake enforced eradication of crops. The strategy we have negotiated with the Afghan Government aims to achieve the Government's target of contributing to the elimination of drugs from Afghanistan within 10 years.

BAE Systems

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of the reports compiled by the secondee from BAE Systems following his secondment to the British Embassy in Brazil between May and October 2002.

Bill Rammell: The report to which the hon. Member refers is currently in draft form.
	I will ask for this report to be placed in the Library of the House as soon as it is finalised.

Bahrain

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British nationals made an official confession of a criminal offence in Bahrain between 2000 and 2003 without the presence of a lawyer.

Mike O'Brien: We are aware of one British national who has stated that he confessed to a crime to the Bahraini authorities without a lawyer present between 2000 and 2003.

Bahrain

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British nationals made an official confession in prison in Bahrain between 2000 and 2003.

Mike O'Brien: We are aware of one British national who was detained and subsequently confessed to committing a crime between 2000 and 2003.

Beef Ban

David Atkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) fines and (b) compensation have been paid by the French Government for banning British beef; and if he will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: I have been asked to reply.
	The European Commission withdrew its case in the European Court of Justice seeking a daily fine on France after France lifted its ban. Therefore, no fines were payable, but the Commission asked the Court to order that costs of the case be borne by France. The UK Government regrets the decision by the European Commission not to pursue the case for penalties against France. The UK has supported the Commission throughout and believes that pressing this case would have sent a firm message to member states that no one country can avoid its obligations and responsibilities.
	Compensation for losses must be sought by those directly affected. The UK Government intervened in the European Court of Justice to support the NFU's current case to rule the ban illegal in the French courts and will support those who wish subsequently to pursue any claims.

British Overseas Territories

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will bring forward plans for the devolved integration of British Overseas Territories into the United Kingdom.

Mike O'Brien: There are no plans for the integration of the Overseas Territories into the United Kingdom.

British Trade International

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the name of the committee within British Trade International is which oversees the placement and monitoring of secondments from outside organisations to the Foreign Office.

Bill Rammell: British Trade International—the joint DTI/FCO body responsible for Trade Development and promotion of Inward Investment—oversees the placement and monitoring of secondments from outside organisations to Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In doing so BTI respects the Cabinet Office guidelines on Interchange and the Civil Service Commissioners' Recruitment Code.

Diego Garcia

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the United States Government regarding the prisoners held on the British military base in Diego Garcia.

Mike O'Brien: None. There is no truth in recent suggestions in the press that the US is holding prisoners on the island of Diego Garcia.

Ethical Banking

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contracts have been concluded as a result of the Government's commitment to support ethical banking.

Bill Rammell: The Government believes it is important for consumers to have choice in financial products, including the availability of 'ethical' products. However, it would not be appropriate for the Government to support exclusively the development of one specific group of financial service providers. It is for individual consumers to decide the attributes they most value from their financial services and for financial services firms to be transparent about their use of funds and investments.

Global Partners Agreement

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps the Russian Federation has agreed to take to advance the implementation of the Global Partners Agreement, known as ten plus ten plus ten; what further action it is required to take; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Russia is a committed member of the G8 'Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction'. In December 2002 the Russian Government decided to set up a new interagency committee, which will be chaired by the Russian Prime Minister. On 10 January this year Russia pledged $2 billion over the next 10 years to the Partnership. This includes $204 million on high-priority projects in 2003, focusing on the destruction of chemical weapons and work on decommissioned nuclear submarines.
	However, for most of the work to begin Russia has to agree to a legal framework that is satisfactory to donor countries. At present there are problems with liability and taxation provisions and these must be solved before many large projects can go ahead. This delay also affects the UK, which has made strenuous efforts to overcome these final obstacles. Conclusion of an agreement is a prerequisite to the start of much of the project-work. We hope that an agreement can be reached very shortly, as the UK is at an advanced stage of readiness and once the legal framework is in place, projects can quickly begin.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced to Parliament last July the UK's commitment to the Global Partnership of up to $750 million over 10 years (1 July 2002, Official Report, column 21). The UK Government believe the importance of the Partnership is clear, and puts a high priority on its contribution, as part of the UK's wider non-proliferation, security and foreign policy strategies.

Iraq

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Government's voting record for each measure, and amendments thereto, on the agenda of the first committee of (a) the UN General Assembly and (b) the UN Security Council in 2002.

Bill Rammell: Voting records of First Committee resolutions of the UN General Assembly since 1997 may be accessed via the internet at http://disarmament.un.org/vote.nsf. Those for UN Security Council resolutions since 1983 may be found at http://unbisnet.un.org.

North Korea

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the situation in North Korea.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary issued a press statement on North Korea's intention to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty on 10 January. The text of the statement is as follows:
	XI deplore North Korea's stated intention to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Such a step, if carried through, will only increase North Korea's isolation from the international community. I call on the North Korean leadership to change course. The NPT is the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, supported by almost every country in the world. North Korea's action is therefore a matter of deep concern for the entire international community."

North Korea

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in North Korea concerning its (a) nuclear power and (b) nuclear arms programmes.

Bill Rammell: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had any direct contact with the DPRK Foreign Minister on the matter of North Korea's nuclear programmes. However, our Ambassador to Pyongyang raised this issue during meetings with the DPRK Foreign Minister, Vice Foreign Minister, and titular Head of State Kim Yong-nam, at the end of December. FCO officials have also been in regular contact with the DPRK Chargé d'affaires in London on this issue since his arrival at the beginning of November. Most recently, FCO officials summoned the Chargé d' Affairs on 10 January to protest against recent actions by the DPRK. We shall continue to use official channels in London and Pyongyang to raise our concerns with North Korea about its nuclear programmes and intention to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Statutory Instruments

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many statutory instruments have been issued by his Department in each calendar year since 1979.

Jack Straw: Departmental records show that for each calendar year since 1979 the number of statutory instruments for which the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is the lead Department is as follows:
	
		
			 Year Number 
		
		
			 1979 57 
			 1980 41 
			 1981 60 
			 1982 35 
			 1983 33 
			 1984 29 
			 1985 44 
			 1986 34 
			 1987 48 
			 1988 36 
			 1989 35 
			 1990 39 
			 1991 26 
			 1992 44 
			 1993 35 
			 1994 30 
			 1995 28 
			 1996 34 
			 1997 77 
			 1998 30 
			 1999 28 
			 2000 37 
			 2001 38 
			 2002 29

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Congestion Charge

James Gray: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what budget he has set aside for the likely cost of the London congestion charge.

Christopher Leslie: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope) on 20 November 2002, Official Report, column 125W.

Council Tax

Andrew Turner: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what changes in council tax in each local authority would be required and possible, assuming spending next year were at FSS level and no change were made to its non-grant income.

Nick Raynsford: Council tax is a local tax. Decisions on council tax are for local authorities to take, after consulting with their local electorate and taxpayers. It is not this Government's policy to preannounce spending totals or council tax increases for local authorities.
	FSS is not, and should not be used as, a measure of assumed local spending. The spending review identifies how much is available in total grant for local authorities. The FSS distributes the available amount to authorities in a way that reflects local pressures in comparison to other areas. There is an allowance per head with top-ups for local pressures such as deprivation, labour costs and sparsity.

Housing (Rural Areas)

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much revenue was collected in real terms for each council tax band in (a) England and (b) local authorities defined as rural, by region, in each year since 1992.

Christopher Leslie: The following table shows the amount of council tax receipts, net of council tax benefit, collected each year in (a) England and (b) local authorities, by region, since 1993, shown in 2001–02 prices. Authorities are defined as 'rural' on the basis of the Countryside Agency's classification of English Local Authorities.
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister collects information on the amount of council tax, net of council tax benefit, collected by each local authority in cash terms. This information is aggregated and can not be reliably broken down by council tax band.
	
		Council Tax Receipts for XRural" Authorities from 1993–94 to 2001–02 (in 2001–02 prices) -- # million
		
			  1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 England 8,313 9,095 9,551 9,994 10,545 11,344 11,850 12,531 13,209 
			   
			 Designated rural authorities by region  
			 East of England 388 428 451 473 504 560 598 641 679 
			 East Midlands 275 318 336 349 382 418 439 468 492 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 48 50 55 57 61 67 71 74 77 
			 North West 234 262 271 281 294 324 336 354 368 
			 South East 720 799 848 892 945 1,028 1,081 1,145 1,203 
			 South West 473 541 553 575 614 677 711 763 804 
			 West Midlands 176 193 197 208 220 272 292 307 329 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 199 224 233 232 241 260 277 292 310 
		
	
	The real terms are calculated using the HM Treasury GDP deflator.

Housing (Rural Areas)

Andrew George: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many households in (a) England and (b) local authorities defined as rural, by region, were identified as being in each band for council tax purposes in each year since the introduction of the scheme.

Christopher Leslie: The following table shows the number of chargeable dwellings in (a) England and (b) local authorities defined as rural, by region, by council tax band since 1993. Chargeable dwellings are dwellings eligible for a council tax charge. This information is taken from the Calculation of Council Tax Base for Revenue Support Grant Purposes Return (CTB1) which is based on information available to the authority in November each year. Authorities are defined as 'rural' on the basis of the Countryside Agency's classification of English Local Authorities.
	
		Number of chargeable dwellings in Xrural" local authorities from 1993 to 2001 -- Thousand
		
			  Band A Band B Band C Band D Band E Band F Band G Band H Total 
		
		
			 1993  
			 England 5,062 3,733 4,280 2,866 1,782 962 729 115 19,529 
			 Designated rural authorities by region  
			 East of England 131 223 235 142 88 46 30 3 898 
			 East Midlands 174 148 135 76 47 27 19 2 627 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 45 16 15 11 8 6 4 0 106 
			 North West 141 105 96 62 41 24 17 2 487 
			 South East 86 201 366 300 215 137 116 17 1,438 
			 South West 151 230 238 174 127 73 51 5 1,048 
			 West Midlands 64 84 88 54 40 24 19 2 375 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 102 95 98 59 42 24 16 1 437 
			   
			 1994  
			 England 5,128 3,792 4,298 2,900 1,781 939 698 107 19,643 
			 Designated rural authorities by region  
			 East of England 135 227 236 143 88 46 29 3 907 
			 East Midlands 180 152 135 77 47 26 18 2 635 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 47 16 15 11 8 6 4 0 107 
			 North West 145 106 96 63 41 23 16 1 493 
			 South East 91 207 371 305 215 134 113 15 1,452 
			 South West 157 237 241 178 127 70 46 4 1,061 
			 West Midlands 66 86 88 55 40 24 17 2 378 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 104 96 99 60 42 22 15 1 440 
			   
			 1995  
			 England 5,165 3,836 4,327 2,927 1,796 938 683 103 19,777 
			 Designated rural authorities by region  
			 East of England 139 230 237 145 90 46 29 3 919 
			 East Midlands 183 154 135 78 49 26 17 1 643 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 47 17 15 11 8 6 3 0 108 
			 North West 146 108 97 64 42 23 16 1 497 
			 South East 94 211 376 308 217 135 112 15 1,467 
			 South West 162 242 245 181 128 69 43 4 1,073 
			 West Midlands 67 87 89 55 41 24 16 2 381 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 106 98 100 62 43 22 14 1 446 
			   
			 1996  
			 England 5,203 3,871 4,351 2,956 1,813 947 688 103 19,934 
			 Designated rural authorities by region  
			 East of England 142 233 239 147 93 47 29 3 932 
			 East Midlands 187 159 138 81 52 28 18 1 663 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 47 17 15 12 8 6 3 0 108 
			 North West 148 108 98 65 43 23 16 1 501 
			 South East 96 214 380 311 218 137 113 15 1,482 
			 South West 164 245 247 183 130 70 43 4 1,086 
			 West Midlands 68 88 89 56 42 24 17 2 385 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 106 95 89 58 40 21 13 1 422 
			   
			 1997  
			 England 5,230 3,896 4,380 2,988 1,837 962 697 105 20,093 
			 Designated rural authorities by region  
			 East of England 143 235 241 149 95 48 30 3 944 
			 East Midlands 188 160 139 83 53 29 18 1 672 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 47 17 15 12 8 6 3 0 109 
			 North West 148 110 98 66 43 23 16 1 506 
			 South East 97 216 383 313 220 139 115 15 1,496 
			 South West 167 247 249 185 132 71 43 4 1,099 
			 West Midlands 69 88 90 57 43 25 17 2 390 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 106 95 90 58 41 21 13 1 426 
			   
			 1998  
			 England 5,242 3,918 4,405 3,017 1,862 976 707 106 20,233 
			 Designated rural authorities by region  
			 East of England 145 236 243 152 97 50 30 3 956 
			 East Midlands 190 161 141 85 55 30 18 2 681 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 47 17 15 12 9 6 4 0 110 
			 North West 149 110 99 66 44 24 16 1 510 
			 South East 99 217 385 315 222 141 116 15 1,509 
			 South West 168 249 251 188 135 72 44 4 1,111 
			 West Midlands 79 104 103 68 51 30 19 2 456 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 107 96 91 59 41 22 13 1 430 
			   
			 1999  
			 England 5,248 3,942 4,430 3,049 1,888 993 717 108 20,374 
			 Designated rural authorities by region  
			 East of England 146 238 245 154 99 51 31 3 967 
			 East Midlands 191 163 142 87 56 31 19 2 690 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 47 17 16 12 9 6 4 0 110 
			 North West 150 111 99 67 45 24 16 1 514 
			 South East 100 218 386 317 224 143 118 15 1,522 
			 South West 170 251 253 190 137 73 44 4 1,122 
			 West Midlands 80 105 103 69 53 31 20 2 461 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 107 97 91 60 42 22 14 1 434 
			   
			 2000  
			 England 5,296 3,972 4,462 3,086 1,918 1,012 729 110 20,586 
			 Designated rural authorities by region  
			 East of England 149 240 247 157 101 52 32 3 981 
			 East Midlands 193 165 144 90 59 32 19 2 703 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 47 17 16 12 9 6 4 0 111 
			 North West 151 111 100 68 46 25 17 1 520 
			 South East 102 220 389 320 226 145 120 15 1,536 
			 South West 172 253 256 192 140 74 45 4 1,137 
			 West Midlands 81 105 104 70 54 31 20 2 467 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 109 97 92 61 43 23 14 1 440 
			   
			 2001  
			 England 5,295 3,991 4,487 3,117 1,947 1,028 740 112 20,717 
			 Designated rural authorities by region  
			 East of England 150 242 248 159 103 53 32 3 990 
			 East Midlands 194 166 145 92 61 33 20 2 713 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 47 17 16 13 9 6 4 0 112 
			 North West 152 112 101 69 47 25 17 1 525 
			 South East 102 221 391 321 228 146 121 16 1,546 
			 South West 173 255 258 195 142 76 46 4 1,149 
			 West Midlands 81 106 104 70 54 32 21 2 471 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 109 98 93 62 44 24 14 1 445 
		
	
	Total figures are subject to rounding.

Local Education Authority Finance

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list for each Local Education Authority the formula spending share, expressed as the amount available for each pupil, in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools for financial year 2003–04 and subsequent years for which data are available.

David Miliband: holding answer 13 January 2003
	I have been asked to reply.
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 January 2003, Official Report, columns 231–33W.

London Mayor (Budget)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London regarding his draft budget; and if he will make a statement.

Christopher Leslie: My hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East (Mr. McNulty) has regular monthly meetings with the Mayor of London at which a wide range of topics are discussed.

Post Office Network

Meg Munn: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assistance he is giving to post offices in low income areas of cities.

Tony McNulty: The #15 million Deprived Urban Post Office Fund was launched by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on 30 December 2002. It provides grants of up to #50,000 to sub-postmasters in the most deprived urban areas of England to modernise their branches as part of the Government's long-term drive to regenerate impoverished urban communities.
	The grant can be used on new retail facilities, shop alterations or improved security. The aim is to reduce the risk of closure of those branches in deprived urban areas, which are not closing as part of the Post Office Urban Network Reinvention scheme. In order to secure funding sub-postmasters will need to show that they are at risk of closure and that the grant will significantly reduce this risk.
	More than 400 post office branches in the 10 per cent. most deprived wards without an alternative branch for more than a half a mile will be given priority under the fund. Initially only they will be able to apply for funding. After six months other post office branches in the 10 per cent. most deprived wards will be able to apply and after one year branches in the rest of the 20 per cent. will also become eligible.
	Separate schemes have been announced for the rural network and the Welsh network, with schemes under development in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Prosecuting Authorities

Oliver Heald: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister in respect of what offences local authorities may act as prosecuting authorities; what decision-making procedures are used by local authorities in respect of charges; and if he will place in the Library the code for prosecutors and charging standards that is used.

Christopher Leslie: Local authorities may act as prosecuting authorities in respect of a very wide range of regulatory functions, such as trading standards and environmental health, and their own byelaws. In deciding whether to prosecute, authorities should have regard to the Crown Prosecution Service Code of Practice for Crown Prosecutors, which is already available in the Library of the House. In addition the Cabinet Office and the Local Government Association have drawn up an Enforcement Concordat for adoption by authorities and for some functions statutory Codes of Practice are in force.

Refuse Collection

Alan Whitehead: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proposals to introduce charging regions for refuse collection have been discussed by his Department as part of public service agreement framework negotiations with local authorities.

Michael Meacher: I have been asked to reply.
	Defra has successfully negotiated with local authorities more than 70 waste targets as part of the Local PSA framework. A number of local authorities have requested either the power to charge householders for refuse collection, or the power to charge for un-segregated waste at Civic Amenity sites. Defra have not been able to grant such powers due to legislative constraints.
	The Cabinet Office's Strategy Unit has carried out a wide ranging review of waste policy and has now reported. One of its main recommendations was that local authorities that wished to take forward household incentive schemes to help reduce waste volumes and increase recycling should be allowed to do so. The Government is currently considering its response to that report.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Arson Attacks

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Chief Constables Dertificates have been issued in the past 12 months in respect of arson attacks on, (a) Orange Halls, (b) premises owned by the Gaelic Athletic Association clubs, (c) Ancient Order of Hibernian's halls, (d) Roman Catholic chapels or halls, (e) Protestant churches or halls, (f) controlled school buildings and (g) maintained school buildings.

Jane Kennedy: The maintenance of records about Chief Constables Certificates was decentralised to the district command units upon their establishment on 1 April 2001. Therefore, an answer to the above question could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Back to School Grants

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the criteria are for application for Back to School grants administered by the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund.

Des Browne: The Back to School Grant was launched by the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund on 1 July this year and finished on 30 September. It was run as a pilot scheme and the directors of the Memorial Fund have not yet decided if it should run again next year.
	The Back to School Grant was open to parents who had children aged 18 or under in full-time education living at home with them and who, as a result of the Troubles, had:
	(a) lost either a parent, partner or child; or
	(b) themselves have been injured; or
	(c) become the primary carer for an immediate family member who has been injured;
	and who were in receipt of one of the following benefits:
	Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance (income based), Working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Persons Tax Credit or Housing Benefit.

Christmas Expenses

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many departmental Christmas cards he and his Ministers intend to send in 2002; how much these cards will cost (a) to buy, (b) to post and (c) in staff time to sign, address and place in envelopes; and if he will place in the Library a sample copy of the official Christmas card he has sent this year.

Jane Kennedy: The total number of Christmas cards sent by the Secretary of State and his Ministers is 3,480 at a cost of #2,582.56.
	Of this total 1,623 were sent by first class post at a cost of #767.00.
	1,857 were sent by the internal mail service, no cost incurred.
	Approximately 20 hours was spent in staff time in undertaking this work (information previously held on Christmas card lists reduced the time spent on this exercise). The Secretary of State and his Ministers personally signed all cards.
	A sample copy of the official 2002 Christmas cards will be placed in the Library.

Discrimination Cases

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discrimination cases involving Government Departments, non-departmental Government bodies and agencies were settled out of court in each of the last three years where confidentiality clauses were invoked.

Jane Kennedy: The number of discrimination cases involving Government departments, non-departmental government bodies and agencies which were settled out of court in each of the last three years where confidentiality clauses were evoked are shown in the table:
	
		
			 Financial year Number of Cases 
		
		
			 December 1999–2000 5 
			 2000–01 14 
			 2001–02 13

Domestic Violence

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on additional measures to tackle domestic violence in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The PSNI have 35 Domestic Violence Liaison Officers who receive comprehensive training in domestic violence procedures. They support the front-line uniform response officers who are required to take decisive action at the scene of a domestic dispute. The PSNI are also working in partnership with other statutory and voluntary organisations undertaking research into a partnership approach to the problem of domestic violence.
	Furthermore, the Northern Ireland Office is currently co-ordinating, on behalf of the Northern Ireland Departments, the development of a strategy to tackle violence against women in Northern Ireland. The strategy will look at a range of crimes where women are predominately the victim including domestic violence. Sexual crime and fear of crime will also be dealt with under the strategy. The tackling violence against women strategy will focus on improving prevention, protection and provision of service to women. The strategy is due for publication in spring 2003.
	Although it is generally accepted that domestic violence is predominately directed towards women we must remember that men can also be sufferers. The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's Regional Forum on Domestic Violence has commissioned research into the experiences of 50 male sufferers of domestic violence. Discussion is ongoing with Queen's University about publication of the findings. The Forum will then consider whether additional steps need to be taken to help male sufferers specifically.

Elderly People (Services)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what services each Department provides free of charge to those aged 65 and over in Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The Department of Agriculture's Agri-Food Development Service offers a comprehensive lifelong learning provision relevant to the agri-food industry and rural communities. Those working within the local agri-food industry and rural communities, including those aged 65 and over, may participate on a free of charge basis. A free collection service is provided to all farmers irrespective of age for fallen bovines aged over 24 months and fallen sheep to enable Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) surveillance testing to be carried out.
	Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) does not directly deliver services on the ground. However, through its Agencies and NDPBs it does provide services to the public, etc. The following are offered free of charge—24 Museums offer free admission to all, including over 65s. And additionally, four charging museums have occasional days of free entry for senior citizens. The public library service which DCAL funds through the five Education and Library Boards offers Book loans, reference services and access to the internet free of charge for all users of the Public Library Service regardless of age. The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) offer free access to the archives held by PRONI regardless of age.
	The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) provided the following services free of charge to those aged 65 and over in Northern Ireland; Employment Services delivered through JobCentres and Jobs and Benefits offices Access to Work (NI) Employment Support Job Introduction Scheme New Deal |for Disabled People New Deal 50+ Training for Work Worktrack Essential Skills for Living courses on offer at 34 learndirect Centres throughout Northern Ireland.
	In addition to the services provided by the national health service that are free to everybody irrespective of age, Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety people aged 60 years and over are entitled to free prescriptions and eye-tests. The Home Help service is free to people aged 75 and over.
	The Department of Environment (DOE) through the DVLNI provide driving licences free to those 70 and over in Northern Ireland.
	The Department for Social Development (DSD) administers The Warm Homes and Warm Homes Plus schemes administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, and available to homeowners and those in private rented sector housing, are provided free of charge to everyone, regardless of age, in receipt of certain income and disability related benefits.
	The Department for Regional Development (DRD) provides resources to enable public transport operators to offer free travel to persons aged 65 years and over.
	Roads Services provides free travel for the over 65s on the Strangford to Portaferry ferry service and Air and Sea Ports Division funds such free travel on the
	Ballycastle to Rathlin ferry.

External Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total cost to his Department was of the use of external consultants in 2002.

Ian Pearson: The total expenditure on use of consultants (including the Northern Ireland Office) for the financial year 2001–02 was #19,846,396.

Fire Authority

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether logbooks on all motor cars owned by the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland are completed in accordance with the undertakings in the Northern Ireland Assembly's Public Accounts Committee report on The Fire Authority for Northern Ireland: Fleet Management and reports on the 1998–99 and 1999–2000 accounts.

Des Browne: The Fire Authority introduced new vehicle logbooks for completion in respect of all Fire Authority cars from May 2002. However, on the advice of the Fire Brigades Union, officers are not fully completing the logbooks for all journeys undertaken. The Acting Chief Fire Officer is attempting to resolve this refusal to implement Fire Authority policy with the Fire Brigades Union.

Fire Authority

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many lifejackets were purchased by the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland in the six months to 1 January 2002; and how much of this consignment is available for use.

Des Browne: The Fire Authority for Northern Ireland purchased 160 lifejackets in the six months to 1 January 2002. Each of the 67 fire stations has been issued with two lifejackets with the remainder held in reserve until all training in the use of the lifejackets has been completed.

Former Prisoners (Payments)

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many former prisoners with terrorist convictions are receiving payments from Government agencies in remuneration for work carried out by them through legitimate community groups or community programmes.

Jane Kennedy: There are no centrally monitored records on this matter. Accordingly, this information can be obtained only at disproportionate costs.

Former RUC Officers

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many former RUC officers, who retired under the Patten severance package, have re-entered the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: The Police Service of Northern Ireland has employed, through open competition, seven people as support staff members who previously retired as police officers under the voluntary severance scheme.

Golden Jubilee Medal

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements have been made by the Chief Constable for the distribution to his officers of the Golden Jubilee Medal awarded by Her Majesty the Queen.

Jane Kennedy: A total of 9,917 Police Service of Northern Ireland officers satisfy the qualifying criteria for the Golden Jubilee Medal.
	The main distribution of these medals will commence early this year; first on a district command basis and then to officers based regionally and within HQ departments. Arrangements will also be made for the issue of medals to those who were eligible before leaving the Police Service and to the next of kin of eligible officers who have since deceased.
	To date 521 medals have been issued. They were allocated in advance of the main distribution to facilitate officers participating in wreath-laying services connected with Remembrance Sunday.

Independent International Commission on Decommissioning

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much expenditure has been incurred by Her Majesty's Government in respect of travel by each member of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning in each year since its formation.

Jane Kennedy: The Commission's travel costs are shared equally between the British and Irish Governments. The British Government's share of the costs, since 1998, has been as follows:
	
		# 
		
			  Britain's share of costs 
		
		
			 1998 81,542 
			 1999 151,624  
			 2000 173,389 
			 2001 187,125 
			 2002(15) 88,721 
			 TOTAL 682,401 
		
	
	(15) Up to 31 October 2002

Memorial Fund

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what public funds have been allocated to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund since its commencement.

Des Browne: To date the Government have allocated a total of #7,007,288 to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund.

NHS University

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health regarding the extension of the proposed NHS University to Northern Ireland.

Des Browne: I have been kept fully informed of plans to establish a university for the NHS (the NHSU).
	NHSU has initially been developed with the Department of Health for the NHS in England although it is recognised that discussions will have to be held with other administrations on the scope of NHSU outside England. As a first step the NHSU Development Plan is being circulated to HPSS bodies and other interested parties here for comment. This process will inform decisions on how NHSU might be used to support lifelong learning for everyone involved in health and social care in Northern Ireland.

Ambulance Service

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on Northern Ireland ambulance sub-station emergency call out times.

Des Browne: Ambulance Service response times to emergency calls has improved significantly since sub-stations were introduced. For example, in the 12 months since the ambulance sub-station at Carrickfergus was opened in January 2002, the 8-minute response target was met in 45.3 per cent. of cases—against a target of 50 per cent.— while the 21-minute response target was met in 94.7 per cent. of cases—against a target of 95 per cent.

Police Service

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many vacancies exist at present for the post of Chief Inspector in the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Jane Kennedy: Currently, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has sufficient officers in the rank of Chief Inspector to cover existing vacancies.

Police Service

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  how many officers have been recruited to the PSNI under the 50:50 rule since its introduction; and how many have been recruited in each recruitment phase;
	(2)  how many police recruits from (a) the Roman Catholic population and (b) others have been recruited to the PSNI since its formation.

Jane Kennedy: As at 6 December 2002, 581 recruits, of whom 297 have declared themselves to be Catholic, and 284 non-Catholic, have been appointed to the PSNI. 305 appointments were made from Competition 1; and to date there have been 192 appointments from Competition 2 and 84 appointments from Competition 3. Further appointments from Competitions 2 and 3 have yet to be made.
	While every effort is made to balance the total appointments from each competition on a 50:50 basis, the balance of appointments can be subject to some fluctuation between competitions. The appointments of a number of non-Catholic candidates from Competitions 2 and 3 have been deferred due to personal circumstances, and in some cases at the request of candidates themselves.

Police Widows

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what financial assistance the widow of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty will receive.

Jane Kennedy: The financial assistance awarded to the widows of police officers killed in the line of duty is governed by the RUC Pensions Regulations 1973 and 1988 and the RUC Injury Benefit Regulations 1988 which provide for the payment of a gratuity and a pension.
	Prior to 25 November 1982 the gratuity was two average pensionable pay (APP). The APP was averaged over three years. From 25 November 1982 the gratuity was five annual rate of pay or four total remuneration, whichever is the lower, plus two maximum pay of a constable in the London Metropolitan less 1¼ APP.
	The widow's pension awarded is the rate of pay plus rent allowance less child allowance for the first 13 weeks. Thereafter, the pension is 50 per cent. of APP. Child allowance is 10 per cent. of APP per child up to a maximum of 40 per cent.

Police Widows

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many RUC widows have been widowed as a result of terrorist activity in Northern Ireland since 1973; and how much money has been distributed to RUC widows since 1973.

Jane Kennedy: Police Service of Northern Ireland records indicate that 224 awards have been paid as a result of officers being killed in the line of duty as a direct result of terrorist activity. The total amount of money distributed in respect of these 224 awards could be calculated only at disproportionate cost.
	The above awards would not take into account the #4.2 million paid by Government to those RUC widows whose husbands were killed by terrorists prior to 25 November 1982, or any subsequent payments made to RUC widows by the Police Fund.

Policing Board

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are made for publishing the proceedings of the Policing Board; and on what date minutes of proceedings were placed on the Policing Board website in each month since the formation of the board.

Jane Kennedy: This is a matter for the Policing Board. I have written to the Chief executive and asked that he respond direct to my hon. Friend.

Provisional IRA

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of Provisional IRA activity along the roads of south Armagh; and what action he intends to take.

Jane Kennedy: The Government do not comment on intelligence assessments. The Secretary of State continues to make judgments on ceasefires, taking account of all the relevant factors, but it has been made plain that there must be an end to all paramilitary activity, including training, targeting and punishment attacks.
	Until terrorism has been set aside in favour of totally democratic and peaceful means, Government will maintain an appropriate security response to protect all the people of Northern Ireland.

RUC Officers (Dependants)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assistance is available to dependants of ex-RUC officers murdered by terrorists.

Jane Kennedy: The RUC Benevolent Fund, the Police Dependants Trust and the Northern Ireland Police Fund are in a position to provide financial assistance to the families of ex-police officers murdered as a direct result of terrorism. In addition to financial support, PSNI Welfare Services and the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust can provide emotional and counselling support.
	Dependants of ex-officers murdered may also apply to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund, an independent charity largely funded by Government that provides financial assistance and grants to victims of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

RUC Officers (Remembrance)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans there are to ensure that ex-RUC officers murdered by terrorists are recognised (a) on police memorials and (b) in the Book of Remembrance.

Jane Kennedy: The majority of memorials erected locally within police stations, and the Book of Remembrance at PSNI HQ Brooklyn, commemorate the death of serving police officers as a result of terrorist activity. There are no plans to include ex-officers in these memorials. Ex-officers will however be named on the planned memorial to be erected within the RUC George Cross Garden of Remembrance at PSNI HQ Brooklyn.

Scheduled Offences

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) juveniles and (b) adults have been charged with offences arising out of civil disturbances in (i) north Belfast, (ii) east Belfast and (iii) Northern Ireland in the current year.

Jane Kennedy: The table provides details of the number of persons charged between 1 January and 30 November 2002 with specific offences relating to disorderly/riotous behaviour/throwing of petrol bombs.
	
		Security situation statistics: Persons charged with specific offences relating to disorderly/riotous behaviour/throwing of petrol bombs—1 January 2002–30 November 2002
		
			 Age Group Belfast North DCU Belfast East DCU Northern Ireland 
		
		
			 Under 17 years 10 2 13 
			 Age 17 years and over 32 15 82 
		
	
	Notes:
	Juveniles are classified as being 16 years and under.
	The above figures are provisional and may be subject to minor adjustment.

Secondary Education

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on the formation of parental consultation bodies to consider the Burns proposals for secondary education.

Jane Kennedy: I want to hear the views of parents on the responses to the Burns consultation and on the next stages of the post-primary review. A sample of schools, drawn from all sectors and management types across the five education and library boards, (a copy of which has been placed in the Library) have each been asked to nominate a parent to meet with my officials in mid-January to give their views on these issues. This follows the process used by CCEA in its consultation on the Curriculum Review.

Security (North Belfast)

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when steps will be taken to provide increased security measures at the Ardoyne road interface in North Belfast.

Jane Kennedy: Sectarian violence in North Belfast is constantly monitored by both NIO and PSNI and, in response to this, security measures are kept under continual review. A 3 m high extension has been completed to the security fence that runs along the Alliance avenue/Glenbryn park interface, bringing the total height to 9 m. Also, in addition to the CCTV camera already in place at the junction of Ardoyne road/Alliance avenue, the PSNI are currently installing two new cameras at Berwick road and Etna drive.
	I am confident that these measures will not only bring some respite to local residents, who suffer most as a result of sectarian violence, but will also assist police both in terms of efficiently deploying resources and effecting arrests.

SPED Applications

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) police officers and (b) prison officers have applied for the Scheme for the Purchase of Evacuated Dwellings in Northern Ireland in the current year; how many have been successful; and what the total cost was in each case.

Jane Kennedy: From 1 April 2002 175 prison officers have applied for SPED, and to date 112 have been accepted on to the scheme. Within the Police Service of Northern Ireland, 126 officers have applied for SPED and 107 have been accepted.
	The Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), operates the SPED scheme. Under the scheme, if the Chief Constable issues a certificate confirming that a threat or intimidation is real, this is sufficient for the NIHE to invoke the scheme. Therefore, the NIHE do not know the background of cases. Up to 12 December the NIHE have had 433 applications at a total cost of #22.213 million.

Voter Identification

Kevin McNamara: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his estimate is of the number of persons removed from the electoral roll in each constituency following legislation on voter identification; what percentage of the electorate this represents; and what the ratio is between the reduction within each constituency and the size of the electoral majority of the sitting hon. Member.

Des Browne: The Electoral Fraud (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 requires an application for voter registration in Northern Ireland to be signed by, include the date of birth, and the national insurance number (or a statement that the applicant does not have a national insurance number) of, each of the persons to whom the form or application relates. Applicants are also required to make a statement that they have been resident in Northern Ireland for the requisite three-month period before the date of their application and to state any other address in the United Kingdom in respect of which they are, or have applied to be, registered. The Chief Electoral Officer is required to remove a person's name from the Electoral Register if their application does not contain any of the above information. These changes came into effect at the Annual Canvass conducted on 15 October 2002. The new Electoral Register was published on 29 November 2002.
	132,000 fewer names appeared on the 29 November Electoral Register than appeared on the previous register of 15 August. Anyone among that 132,000 who is eligible to be registered will be able to do so via Rolling Registration before the next scheduled Assembly election on 1 May 2003.
	The figures in the attached table have been provided by the Chief Electoral Officer and are available on the Electoral Office website: www.electoralofficeni.gov.uk .
	
		
			 Parliamentary constituency Number of persons removed from the Electoral Register in each Parliamentary constituency following 2002 annual canvass Percentage of previously registered electors this represents Size of electoral majority at General Election on 7 June 2001 
		
		
			 Belfast East 6,637 11.53 7,117 
			 Belfast North 9,434 15.9 6,387 
			 Belfast South 10,084 16.98 5,399 
			 Belfast West 10,970 18.56 19,342 
			 East Antrim 6,452 10.57 128 
			 East Londonderry 5,564 9.12 1,901 
			 Fermanagh and South Tyrone 5,440 7.95 53 
			 Foyle 9,492 13.13 11,550 
			 Lagan Valley 7,510 10.22 18,342 
			 Mid Ulster 4,606 7.26 9,953 
			 North Antrim 6,222 8.19 14,224 
			 North Down 6,968 10.96 7,324 
			 Newry and Armagh 7,647 10.27 3,575 
			 South Antrim 8,427 11.91 1,011 
			 South Down 7,205 9.54 13,858 
			 Strangford 7,248 9.95 1,110 
			 Upper Bann 6,763 9.1 2,058 
			 West Tyrone 5,533 8.92 5,040

Weston Park Commitments

Roy Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which political parties gave commitments at Weston Park in respect of the new Northern Ireland policing legislation and on other proposals presented.

Jane Kennedy: The agreement at Weston Park was that between two Governments. Together with the Irish Government, we published, on 1 August 2001, our joint proposals on four areas—policing, normalisation, the stability of the institutions and decommissioning— together with a draft statement which the parties would issue in the event that the overall package was acceptable. In the event not all the parties accepted those proposals.
	All the changes to the policing legislation that the Government had undertaken to consider in the context of the review of policing arrangements were set out in the updated Patten Implementation Plan, published on 17 August 2001.

MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Women Prisoners

Colin Breed: To ask the Minister for Women what recent discussions she has had with the Home Secretary regarding the treatment of women prisoners.

Patricia Hewitt: I have had no recent discussions with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary regarding the treatment of women prisoners.

Equal Pay

Andrew Selous: To ask the Minister for Women what recent representations she has received about the gender pay gap.

Patricia Hewitt: I have received no representations in the last three months on the gender pay gap.

Equal Pay

Julie Morgan: To ask the Minister for Women what plans she has to reduce the pay gap between women and men.

Patricia Hewitt: The causes of the gender pay gap are complex. The Government have set in place a number of measures designed to tackle them. The Employment Act 2002 when it comes into force in April 2003, for example, will introduce an equal pay questionnaire and measures to help mothers stay attached to the labour market.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Manufacturing Productivity

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what plans her Department has to increase the UK's manufacturing productivity levels; and if she will make a statement.

Alan Johnson: Manufacturing matters hugely to the prosperity of the UK. But we know that our manufacturing productivity levels here in the UK are significantly lower than in some of our competitor nations. That is why this Government have focused the spotlight on manufacturing productivity through the Manufacturing Strategy it published last May, the first by any Government since the 1970s.

Post Office

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what payment will be made to sub-postmasters who make payments from (a) a high street bank account, (b) a universal bank account and (c) a post office card account.

Stephen Timms: Remuneration for sub-postmasters is a commercial matter between the Post Office and the sub-postmasters.

Post Office

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she last met the chairman of Postwatch to discuss the availability of post office card accounts and the Post Office Reinvention Programme.

Stephen Timms: DTI Ministers and officials have regular contact with Postwatch to discuss a range of issues concerning postal services.

Post Office

Mark Prisk: To ask to Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the future of the post office network.

Stephen Timms: The Government remain fully committed to maintaining a nationwide network of post offices and is investing very substantial sums in supporting the modernisation of the network in line with the PIU report's recommendations.

Energy White Paper

Russell Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she expects to publish the energy White Paper.

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will publish the energy white paper.

Brian Wilson: The Government expects to publish energy White Paper shortly.

Arms Sales

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry What has been the cost to public funds in the last financial year of arms sales financed by ECGD payments.

Nigel Griffiths: ECGD charges premium for all its business, regardless of sector, at a level which reflects its assessment of the risks involved and is sufficient to meet the financial criteria set by Ministers. For defence business in 2001–02, ECGD paid claims of #125 million which were in respect of guarantees issued before this period. ECGD has paid no claims on defence business underwritten since May 1997.

Belfast City Airport

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will refer to the Competition Commission a bid to take over Belfast City airport.

Melanie Johnson: Under the Fair Trading Act 1973 a merger qualifies for investigation if it creates or enhances a 25 per cent. share of supply in the UK or a substantial part of the UK, or if the gross value of the worldwide assets being taken over is more than #70 million.
	In the first instance it is for the Director General of Fair Trading to advise Ministers on whether or not a qualifying merger should be referred to the Competition Commission.

Child Care Tax Credit

Archy Kirkwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  who will conduct the review into the childcare tax credit; what the review's terms of reference are; whether the results of the review will (a) be published and (b) be made available in the Library; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  whether the review into the childcare tax credit will (a) look at extending the scope of the credit and (b) examine regional and national differences in the take-up of childcare tax credit;
	(3)  if she will make a statement on the difficulties involved in making an estimate of the number of parents eligible but not claiming the childcare tax credit.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	As announced in the joint report released by DTI and Treasury on 14 January, XBalancing Work and Family Life: Enhancing Choice and Support for Parents" the Government are committed to keeping under review how well support for child care costs within tax credits is working, in particular, the effect that the increased flexibility has on the ability of parents to adjust their child care requirements to suit their needs. Clearly the new system will need to be in place for a period of time before consideration can be made of the effects of the new more flexible system.
	In order to qualify for childcare tax credit, parents have to satisfy two requirements. Firstly they must qualify for WFTC working more than 16 hours per week with a family income below the eligible maximum. Secondly they have to be using registered child care and if you have a partner he or she must also be working more than 16 hours. Because of the difficulties in identifying the people meeting these criteria and the constantly changing profile of recipients, it is difficult to estimate the number of parents eligible but not claiming the childcare tax credit.

Consumer Credit Act

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on what conclusions she has reached as part of her Department's review of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 with respect to the questions of (a) how credit card annual percentage rates are calculated and (b) whether there is a case for reform of the statutory rules.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 13 January 2003
	A review of the Consumer Credit Act was announced in July 2001. To date, consultation papers have been published on the financial limits in the Act and the agreements that are exempt from its control; the early settlement of consumer credit agreements; and the conclusion of agreements by electronic means.
	Taking the review forward, I will shortly be consulting on changes to the licensing system and to provisions on extortionate credit.

ELGAR IT

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the (a) purchase cost, (b) installation cost and (c) annual operating costs since its installation were of the ELGAR IT system; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The information requested cannot be provided as pricing information about the ELGAR contract is Commercial in Confidence and is therefore subject to exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on access to Government Information.

Energy Options

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the latest position on research, demonstration and development expenditure on energy options and institutions.

Brian Wilson: The latest available figures (2001–02) for direct Government expenditure on research, demonstration and development are as follows:
	
		
			  # million 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Renewables 11 
			 Nuclear fusion 14.3 
			 Meteorological Office emergency response arrangements 2.1 
			 Clean coal 4.1 
			 Combined heat and power 2.4 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Of DTI's total spend on nuclear R&D given above, #14.3 million was on fusion research and #2.1 million in support of Meteorological Office emergency response arrangements. Expenditure on nuclear R&D by public sector bodies is set out in their annual reports and accounts and could not be provided in the manner requested without disproportionate cost.
	2. The table sets out identified Government spend and excludes, for example, spending by research councils, which could not be separated in the manner requested without disproportionate cost.
	3. DTI's New and Renewable Energy R&D programme also includes support for activities which are not technology specific, for example, export, commercialisation, marketing and international activities.
	4. In 2001, payment appropriations from EC Budget to Euratom were 209 million euros and to the European Commission's Joint Research Centre 249.7 million euros.
	5. UK payments to the International Atomic Energy Agency in 2002 were as follows:
	IAEA Regular budget subscription—#6,261,011
	IAEA Technical co-operation fund—#2,525,046.

Energy Review

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the involvement of DEFRA in the energy review; and if she will make a statement.

Brian Wilson: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is a Member of the Cabinet Committee, DA(N), which is overseeing the energy review and the team who are undertaking the detailed work includes a number of officials drawn from DEFRA.

Engineering Construction Industry

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what measures she proposes to tackle skill shortages in the engineering construction industry.

Brian Wilson: DTI is working with the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (the statutory body for the industry) and other key players in the sector to address skills shortages and other related issues. We have helped:
	Establish a working group to help identify and address key skills gaps.
	Part-fund and Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) study into the feasibility for a national level competence assessment scheme for the engineering construction industry.
	Support an audit of adult basic skills needs in the sector.

Fair Trade

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what fair trade criteria she sets when deciding upon what suppliers to use.

Patricia Hewitt: It is government policy to promote fair trade products, against the background of the need to obtain best value for money, the EC procurement rules and the Department's objectives. Within these guidelines the Department and its Agencies are committed to supporting ethical trading wherever possible. For example, the Department's Catering Contractor to its London Restaurants makes available fair trade tea and coffee to staff.

Foreign Direct Investment

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the United Kingdom's position is in the EU league table of stock of foreign direct investment; and if she will make a statement.

Nigel Griffiths: Latest UNCTAD figures confirm the UK's ranking as Europe's top investment location in the stock of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with $496,776 million and that we are second only to the USA in the world. Latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures also show that FDI stock in the UK in the third quarter of 2002 was at a record level of #390.6 billion, an increase of #25.1 billion or 7 per cent. over the same quarter in 2001. These figures are a clear vote of confidence in the UK's business conditions.
	The Government are determined to see the UK remain the top location in Europe for inward investment and will continue to pursue economic policies which will enhance the UK's attractions including lasting economic stability, open markets and a pro-business environment.

Illegal Working Practices

John Lyons: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the Government are doing to combat illegal working practices and how many companies have been prosecuted since 1997 for such practices.

Malcolm Wicks: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Work and Pensions is focusing increasingly on fraud where dishonest employers abuse the system, for example by not paying national insurance contributions or by paying artificially low wages to workers who continue to claim out-of-work benefits.
	We have put in place a programme targeting these employers and have specialist teams working together with the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise to tackle employer fraud, including Joint Shadow Economy Teams. In addition we have since 1 May 2002 had powers under the Fraud Act to impose a financial penalty on employers who abuse the system instead of prosecuting them. This new power, together with the work we are doing jointly with the taxation Departments, marks a step change in our approach to those employers who would collude with their employees in cheating the tax or benefit systems.
	Information on the number of employers prosecuted specifically for collusion is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Medical Advisers

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many medical advisers are employed in her Department; where they are located; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: My Department does not directly employ any medical advisers. Occupational health advice is provided under contract by an external supplier.

Miners' Compensation

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what criteria are used to determine the payment of compensation to former miners suffering from (a) respiratory disease and (b) vibration white finger.

Brian Wilson: The criteria for eligibility for compensation for respiratory disease and vibration white finger (VWF) are detailed in the High Court judgements handed down against British Coal in 1998 and 1997 respectively. These criteria formed the basis of the Claims Handling Agreement, which were subsequently negotiated with the solicitors acting for the claimants.
	Former miners and their families are entitled to compensation if the claimant is found to be suffering from respiratory disease caused by his exposure to mine dust and fumes while employed underground after 4 June 1954, the date of liability. For VWF former miners and their families are entitled to compensation if the claimant is found to be suffering from VWF caused by his being employed in an occupational group whereby exposure to vibratory tools was substantial or significant after 1975.

New Export System

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many annual transactions in (a) 2001 and (b) 2002 could have been covered by the New Export System procedures; and how many are expected to be covered in (i) 2003 and (ii) 2004.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The total of export declaration transactions in 2001 was 4.5 million and the total for 2002 was also 4.5 million. All of the export declaration transactions made during 2001–02 could have been handled by the New Export System (NES) had the system been in place at that time. It is estimated that 4.5 to 5 million export declaration transactions will be processed in 2003 and the same in 2004 providing there are no major changes to current pattern in UK exports.

New Export System

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what regulatory impact assessment has been carried out of the New Export System; and what the estimated annual costs are to business.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	The implementation of the New Export System (NES) has required no new regulations, just new procedures and therefore no regulatory impact assessment has been required. There are, however, compliance rules for exporters who choose to use simplified procedures for export declarations. These procedures have been widely publicised and are documented on HMCE website.
	There is no estimate of annual costs to business as a whole as the cost will depend on how each exporter has chosen to implement NES and any savings offset as a result of a reduction in paper handling.

New Export System

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps she has taken to co-ordinate the introduction of the New Export System with comparable measures in the EU countries.

John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
	Although regular liaison and exchange of information takes place with other member states on all international trade matters, there is no joint initiative to implement New Export System (NES) across the EU. However, several other member states have or will be implementing electronic export declarations and others have taken an active interest in the UK implementation of NES. NES is also fully compliant with EU regulations.

Nuclear Accident

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what her Department's role is in the event of a nuclear accident.

Brian Wilson: DTI would be the lead Government Department in the event of an emergency at a civil nuclear site in England or Wales and would be responsible for co-ordinating the response to the emergency at the national level. In Scotland, this responsibility would fall to the Scottish Executive.
	As lead Department, DTI would set up its Nuclear Emergency Briefing Room in London to liaise closely with all relevant local and national agencies and departments, and co-ordinate necessary action at national level; be the main source of information from central Government to the public and media; alert the UK's international partners; brief Ministers on the emergency; and appoint a Government Technical Adviser (GTA) from HM Nuclear Installations Inspectorate to advise the police and emergency services on measures to protect the public. DTI would work closely with the Scottish Executive which has parallel arrangements for an emergency in Scotland. DTI Ministers would report to the Houses of Parliament in respect of an emergency at any civil nuclear site in the UK.
	DTI participates in the regular programme of off-site nuclear exercises held for all nuclear sites to help maintain constant readiness and, through the lessons of those exercises, seek improvements.

Nuclear Installations (Consequence Management)

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the major programme of activities to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen the arrangements for consequence management at nuclear installations.

Brian Wilson: The Department is working with the Health and Safety Executive's Nuclear Installations Inspectorate and the civil nuclear industry to both identify and reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen arrangements for consequence management. It is not Government policy to discuss details of security arrangements at civil nuclear sites.

Oil Reserves

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the annual global (a) production and (b) consumption of oil each year since 1997.

Brian Wilson: Estimates of global production of crude oil and natural gas liquids together with estimates for global oil demand are produced by the International Energy Agency and are given in the following table.
	
		Million metric tonnes
		
			 Year World production of crude oil and natural gas liquids World oil demand 
		
		
			 1997 3,464 3,393 
			 1998 3,532 3,419 
			 1999 3,456 3,474 
			 2000 3,585 3,516 
			 2001 3,579 3,519 
		
	
	Source:
	International Energy Agency (Oil Information 2002)

Oil Reserves

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the average (a) gross and (b) net price received per barrel of oil extracted from the UK section of the North Sea in each year since 1974; and what the average price of oil per barrel was on the world market in each of those years.

Brian Wilson: The DTI surveys which collect data giving the average price received per barrel of oil extracted from the UK were begun only in 1976. The prices from these surveys have been converted to $/barrel and are shown in the table against the spot prices of the three major world benchmark crudes. The prices shown are gross; prices net of costs and taxes/royalties cannot be estimated because data restricted to oil production are unavailable.
	
		Crude Oil Prices 1976–2001
		
			  Spot marker prices  
			  Average UK price received Brent Dubai West Texas intermediate Exchange rate 
			  #/tonne $/bbl 1 $/barrel 2 $/barrel 3 $/barrel 4 $/# 
		
		
			 1976 55.0 13.2 12.8 11.6 12.2 1.80 
			 1977 59.4 13.8 13.9 12.4 14.2 1.75 
			 1978 53.2 13.6 14.0 13.0 14.6 1.92 
			 1979 73.7 20.9 31.6 29.8 25.1 2.12 
			 1980 111.9 34.7 36.8 35.7 38.0 2.33 
			 1981 138.3 37.3 35.9 34.3 36.1 2.03 
			 1982 142.0 33.1 33.0 31.8 33.7 1.75 
			 1983 148.3 30.0 29.6 28.8 30.3 1.52 
			 1984 164.9 29.4 28.7 28.1 29.4 1.34 
			 1985 158.3 27.4 27.5 27.5 28.0 1.30 
			 1986 73.3 14.3 14.4 13.0 15.0 1.47 
			 1987 81.7 17.9 18.4 16.9 19.2 1.64 
			 1988 63.4 15.0 15.0 13.2 16.0 1.78 
			 1989 81.0 17.7 18.2 15.7 19.7 1.64 
			 1990 94.6 22.5 23.8 20.5 24.5 1.79 
			 1991 86.0 20.3 20.0 16.6 21.5 1.77 
			 1992 83.4 19.6 19.4 17.2 20.6 1.77 
			 1993 85.8 17.2 17.1 14.9 18.4 1.50 
			 1994 77.0 15.7 16.0 14.8 17.2 1.53 
			 1995 81.1 17.1 17.2 16.1 18.4 1.58 
			 1996 96.9 20.2 20.8 18.6 22.2 1.56 
			 1997 87.4 19.1 19.3 18.1 20.6 1.64 
			 1998 60.0 13.3 13.1 12.2 14.4 1.66 
			 1999 80.0 17.3 18.3 17.3 19.3 1.62 
			 2000 138.0 27.9 29.0 26.2 30.4 1.52 
			 2001 125.6 24.1 24.8 22.8 25.9 1.44 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Assuming 1 tonne = 7.5 barrels
	2. 1976–1984 Forties, 1985–2001 Brent
	3. 1972–1985 Arabian Light, 1986–2001 Dubai
	4. 1976–1983 Posted WTI prices, 1984–2001 Spot WTI prices
	Sources:
	UK price received: DTI PQ1100 Quarterly Enquiry and preceding surveys.
	Spot marker prices: BP Statistical Review of World Energy (2002).
	Exchange rate: ONS.

Oil Reserves

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of (a) the quantity of oil in the world that remains unextracted and (b) how long this will last at present rates of extraction.

Brian Wilson: The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that proven global reserves of conventional crude oil and natural gas liquids are 959 billion barrels. In addition, the IEA estimates undiscovered resources of conventional crude oil and natural gas liquids to be 939 billion barrels and recoverable non-conventional reserves, such as oil shales, to be 580 billion barrels. In their 2002 publication World Energy Outlook, the IEA commented that resources of conventional crude oil and natural gas liquids are adequate to meet the projected increase in demand to 2030, although new discoveries will be needed to renew reserves.

Oil Reserves

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much oil has been extracted from the UK section of the North Sea in each year since 1974; and what the estimated total left unextracted is.

Brian Wilson: Information on offshore UK production of crude oil and natural gas liquids is provided in the table.
	
		
			 Year Million tonnes 
		
		
			 1974 0.3 
			 1975 1.5 
			 1976 12.1 
			 1977 38.2 
			 1978 53.9 
			 1979 77.6 
			 1980 80.2 
			 1981 89.2 
			 1982 103.0 
			 1983 114.6 
			 1984 125.7 
			 1985 127.2 
			 1986 126.6 
			 1987 122.8 
			 1988 113.7 
			 1989 91.0 
			 1990 89.8 
			 1991 87.6 
			 1992 90.3 
			 1993 96.5 
			 1994 121.9 
			 1995 124.8 
			 1996 124.5 
			 1997 123.3 
			 1998 127.3 
			 1999 132.8 
			 2000 123.0 
			 2001 113.8 
		
	
	As at the end of 2001, oil reserves on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf (including onshore and outside the North Sea) were estimated to range between 605 and 1,430 million tonnes for remaining reserves in existing discoveries and between 205 and 1,930 million tonnes in potential future discoveries.

Nuclear Power

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of the nuclear power stations proposed to be built under the new nuclear programme will be built in Scotland.

Brian Wilson: holding answer 14 January 2003
	There is no such programme. Development consent for any new nuclear power station in Scotland would be a matter for Scottish Ministers, if such a proposal should arise.

REPPIR

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much each local council is expected to spend on implementing REPPIR; how much each local council has spent on formulating their latest REPPIR plan; how much each local council has spent on acquiring the necessary equipment; and what stocks of equipment each REPPIR council has.

Brian Wilson: Information about the expenditure local authorities have incurred in complying with the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001 (REPPIR) is not collected by the Health and Safety Executive who enforce the Regulations and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	To date, off-site plans under REPPIR have been identified as necessary for all sites licensed under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965 and certain Ministry of Defence sites. REPPIR allows local authorities to charge site operators for their costs in preparing, reviewing, revising and testing off-site plans and has formalised local arrangements that existed for many nuclear sites prior to the Regulations coming into force. I would not expect the additional costs to local authorities of complying with REPPIR to be significant.

Waste Recycling

Joan Ruddock: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much her Department has allocated for waste recycling projects undertaken by (a) local authorities, (b) non-profit making organisations and (c) industry in financial years (i) 2002–03 and (ii) 2003–04.

Patricia Hewitt: holding answer 13 January 2003
	My Department has allocated #7 million for financial year 2002–03 and #7.7 million for 2003–04. The majority of this is industrially linked R&D support, particularly through the Department's contribution to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP). DTI has not allocated specific budgets to local authority or non-profit making organisation projects.

HEALTH

Consultants

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many consultants on the register of the General Medical Council are over 60, broken down by nation and region; and what the figures were in each of the last five years.

John Hutton: holding answer 14 January 2003
	The General Medical Council (GMC) holds limited, but not historical, information. According to the GMC, as of 13 January 2003, there were 43,375 doctors in the United Kingdom on the GMC Register who were also on the specialist register. Of these 4,758 were aged 60 or over.

Diabetes

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are suffering from diabetes in each health authority in the UK.

David Lammy: I regret that this information is not available in the format requested. However, an estimated 1.3 million people in England have diagnosed diabetes. A population of 100,000 would be expected to include between 2,000 and 3,000 people with diabetes.

Accident and Emergency Departments

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what evidence he has collated on the effect that changing the name of hospital accident and emergency departments will have on the frequency that they are used; and if he will publish it;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the Dott plan to rename accident and emergency departments in hospitals; and to what he proposes to change their name;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost of renaming hospital accident and emergency departments.

David Lammy: The Department of Health has no plans to change the name of accident and emergency departments and has therefore made no estimate of the costs or effect of doing so. We understand the British association of accident and emergency medicine (BAEM) and faculty of accident and emergency medicine (FAEM) are balloting their members on a proposal to change the name of the specialty to emergency medicine. We will consider the views of the BAEM and FAEM when they have reported them to the Department.

Drug Addicts

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many registered drug addicts there were in the (a) Twickenham constituency, (b) London borough of Richmond upon Thames and (c) London in each year since 1995; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Following the closure of the Home Office Addicts Index in 1997, the regional drug misuse databases were the main source of information on persons presenting to drug treatment services with a drug problem. Information is available by health authority and regional office area and is shown in the following table:
	
		Number of users reported as presenting for treatment for drug misuse in Kingston and Richmond health authority and the London regional office area, April 1995 to March 2001
		
			 Six month period ending Kingston and Richmond health authority London regional office area 
		
		
			 September 1995 207 5,727 
			 March 1996 201 5,867 
			 September 1996 235 5,690 
			 March 1997 219 5,684 
			 September 1997 143 4,057 
			 March 1998 137 4,292 
			 September 1998 157 6,564 
			 March 1999 164 5,748 
			 September 1999 195 6,294 
			 March 2000 244 6,713 
			 September 2000 225 6,626 
			 March 2001 247 6,730 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Reporting to the Regional Drug Misuse Databases was voluntary; changes in numbers of users presenting may, at least in part, be due to changes in reporting practice.
	2. Following NHS reorganisation in 2002, Kingston and Richmond health authority became part of the South West London Strategic Health Authority.
	Source:
	The Department of Health series of Statistical Bulletins XStatistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases. Bulletins for the six months ending March 1998 onwards are available on the internet at http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/work public health.htm

Drug Rehabilitation

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many drug rehabilitation places are available to registered drug addicts in the (a) Twickenham constituency, (b) London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and (c) London; how many registered drug addicts in the (i) Twickenham constituency, (ii) London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and (iii) London are receiving (A) rehabilitation and (B) other forms of drug treatment; and if he will make a statement.

John Hutton: Information is not available in the form requested. In the case of residential rehabilitation, places are often purchased at a residential centre that may be outside the drug misusers area of residence. In practice some local authority social services departments agree to fund long distance placements with the agreement of the drug misusers so he/she can be removed from the area where they are involved in drug using. This means that in theory all of the approximately 3,100 residential rehabilitation places for drug and alcohol misusers in England are available to drug misusers resident in Twickenham and other parts of London. However, purchasing decisions are a matter for agreement between the drug misusers and the local agencies.
	A one off exercise was carried out to estimate the number of drug users in England in contact with drug treatment agencies in 2000–01. Around of 27,400 individuals were reported to be in contact with drug treatment agencies in London; of these, 142 were reported as being in treatment at community specialist services in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. A statistical bulletin XStatistics from the Regional Drug Misuse Databases on drug misusers in treatment in England, 2000/01" was published in December 2001, and is available on the Department of Health website at, http://www.doh.gov.uk/public/sb0133.htm

Foundation Trusts

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how frequently an NHS foundation trust will be required to review its constitution.

John Hutton: Subject to legislation, the constitution of a national health service foundation trust will be set on establishment. There will be no requirement on NHS foundation trusts to review the constitution.

Foundation Trusts

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how representatives from the employee membership will be elected to the board of governors of a foundation trust; whether there will be provision for different grades of staff to be represented; and what role staff trade unions will play in the process.

John Hutton: It will be up to national health service foundation trusts, and NHS foundation trust applicants, to arrange elections to suite local circumstances and ensure a proper balance on the Board of Governors as set out in paragraphs 2.25–2.28 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Foundation Trusts

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the possibility of all employees of a foundation trust being given automatic membership of the trust; and for what reasons he has decided that employees must register for membership.

John Hutton: The Department has not received any representations on this issue. Subject to legislation, all employees, defined as people who have a permanent contract, or a fixed term contract longer than 12 months, will be eligible to become members if they choose as set out in paragraphs 2.6–2.10 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts". It will be up to individual national health service foundation trusts to decide whether they want staff membership to be automatic.

Foundation Trusts

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether an employee of a foundation trust who is a registered member of the trust will be able to retain membership rights after leaving the trust's employment.

John Hutton: Subject to legislation, membership will be open to employees after leaving the national health service foundation trust's employment if they meet the eligibility criteria set by the NHS foundation trust in line with paragraphs 2.6–2.9 of XA Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts".

Free Health Checks

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of restoring free (a) dental and (b) eye examinations to (i) all adults, (ii) those over 65, (iii) those over 60 and (iv) those over 55; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: About a quarter of dental examinations carried out on adults in the general dental service have either no patient charge, or else the patient pays a reduced charge. It is estimated that making dental examinations free to adults would reduce patient charge revenue in England by:
	
		
			 Adults Reduction in patient charge revenue  at 2002–03 charge rates in # million  
		
		
			 Age 18 and over 87 
			 Age 65 and over 15 
			 Age 60 and over 22 
			 Age 55 and over 30 
		
	
	Additional costs would arise if there were any associated increase in the overall number of dental examinations and national health service dental treatments.
	In April 1999 we made everyone aged 60 and over eligible for a free NHS sight test. Children, people on low incomes and those suffering from or predisposed to eye disease are also eligible. Our estimates of the costs per annum of extending eligibility further are:
	
		
			 Adults Additional costs per annum in # million 
		
		
			 Age 18 and over 80 
			 Age 55 and over 15

Hospital Performance Ratings

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what weighting is given to each of the criteria in performance ratings for hospitals, with particular reference to (a) clinical excellence and (b) good administration.

John Hutton: holding answer 2 December 2002
	The national health service published in July 2002 a XClinical Focus" containing nine indicators reflecting the standard of clinical care provided by NHS hospital trusts. Success against many of the targets and indicators in the ratings would be necessarily underpinned by high quality administrative and managerial work.

Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Mid-Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust area were waiting for in-patient treatment on the latest available date.

David Lammy: There were 9,468 patients waiting for in-patient treatment at Mid Essex Hospital Services National Health Service Trust at the end of November 2002.
	Source:
	KH07 return

NHS Direct

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much medical training is received by those manning the telephones of NHS Direct before they commence work.

David Lammy: holding answer 10 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 19 December 2002, Official Report, column 1053W.

NHS Prescriptions

Brian Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will adjust the level of income which allows those on incapacity benefit to receive free NHS prescriptions to compensate for the recent increase in incapacity benefit.

David Lammy: Calculation of entitlement to help with health costs under the national health service low income scheme is based on income support arrangements. Claims are assessed by a comparison of requirements and resources. Any increase in either will be reflected in the calculation.

Overseas Medical Staff (Recruitment)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received from foreign governments about recruitment for the NHS of (a) nurses and (b) doctors in their countries.

John Hutton: holding answer 2 December 2002
	I refer the hon. Member to the response I gave him on 25 June 2002, Official Report, column 858W.
	Since then, no further governments have made representations to the Department concerning the recruitment of doctors and nurses in their countries to the national health service.
	We continue to discuss work programmes with New Zealand, Ghana, South Africa, the Caribbean and Poland, which will aid the retention of their health care professionals.
	In addition, we have had a further approach from the Italian Government to discuss the possibility of recruiting doctors from their country.

Public-Private Partnerships

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many departmental minutes issued by his Department were outstanding on 30 November, that referred to public private partnerships as included in Table B14 of the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts; and what their value was.

John Hutton: holding answer 13 January 2003
	There are no departmental minutes outstanding referring to public private partnerships arising from Table B14 of the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts.

Tuberculosis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 3 December, Ref 83328, which health authorities have levels of tuberculosis higher than the national average.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 10 December 2002
	Information reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service notification of infectious disease system 2001, show that the following health authorities have levels of tuberculosis higher than the national average.
	Newcastle and North Tyneside, Liverpool, Bury and Rochdale, Wigan and Bolton, Leeds, Berkshire, East Lancashire, Sheffield, West Pennine, Bexley/Bromley/Greenwich, Merton/Sutton/Wandsworth, Bedfordshire, Walsall, Calderdale and Kirklees, Croydon, Leicestershire, Bradford, Manchester, Kensington/Chelsea/Westminster, Coventry, Birmingham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest, Hillingdon, Barnet/Enfield/Harringey, Lambeth/Southwark/Lewisham, Ealing/Hammersmith/Hounslow, Camden and Islington, Brent and Harrow, East London and City.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps he is taking to provide support for (a) those with a traumatic brain injury, (b) their families and (c) carers in North Staffordshire;
	(2)  what facilities are in place in North Staffordshire to provide effective rehabilitation for those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury;
	(3)  what steps he is taking to improve care for those who suffer from traumatic head injuries in North Staffordshire.

David Lammy: Local commissioners are responsible for providing appropriate healthcare for their local communities, including the provision of brain injury services.
	The neuropsychiatry rehabilitation unit at the Haywood Hospital, part of North Staffordshire Hospital National Health Service Trust, provides care for people with some form of brain trauma, requiring supervision, assessment, treatment or rehabilitation. The unit also provides help with emotional or behavioural difficulties relating to brain trauma and has an associated community service.
	The neuropsychiatry unit at the Harplands Hospital caters for people with acute neuro-psychiatric problems following brain injury. Users of that facility are likely to require closer supervision or observation initially and may be detained under the Mental Health Act.
	A West Midlands regional group made up of service commissioners, including senior clinicians and managers, has been established to look at ways of improving the provision of neurosurgery across the West Midlands, including the North Staffordshire area.

LORD CHANCELLOR

Departmental Expenditure (Newsprint)

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total expenditure of the Department was on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2002.

Rosie Winterton: The total expenditure on newspapers, magazines and periodicals in 2001–02 was #72,700.

Departmental Staff

Jim Cousins: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the distribution of the Lord Chancellor's Department's whole-time equivalent staff was, including the staff in agencies and other bodies reporting to him, in each Government office region and nation of the UK (a) in 1996 and (b) at the most recent available period.

Rosie Winterton: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to him by the Minister of State, Cabinet Office, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Paisley, South (Mr. Alexander) on 15 January 2003, Official Report, column 609W.

External Consultants

John Bercow: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total cost to his Department was of the use of external consultants in 2002.

Rosie Winterton: The Lord Chancellor's Department also replies on behalf of its Associated Offices and the Court Service.
	The Department does not collect this information on a calendar year basis.
	However, I can confirm that the Department's net expenditure with external consultants in the financial year dated 2001–02 was #6.5 million.